Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work® in 2026.

Description of Role

The Manager, Product Quality will provide quality oversight and support for product development and manufacturing activities across the Company portfolio. This role is responsible for ensuring quality considerations are integrated throughout the product lifecycle, from clinical development through commercial readiness.

Reporting to the Executive Director, GMP Quality Assurance, this individual will serve as a key quality partner to Technical Operations, CMC Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Supply Chain, and external manufacturing organizations. The role requires strong technical knowledge, sound judgment, and the ability to effectively manage quality activities in a fast-paced, outsourced development environment.

Key Responsibilities

Product Quality Oversight

Serve as Product Quality lead for assigned development programs.
Provide quality support for drug substance, drug product, and finished product manufacturing activities.
Ensure product quality risks are appropriately identified, assessed, and mitigated throughout development.
Participate in cross-functional project teams and represent Quality in development and manufacturing discussions.

Manufacturing and Technical Operations Support

Review manufacturing documentation, batch records, protocols, reports, and supporting quality documentation.
Support technology transfers, process scale-up activities, process validation efforts, and manufacturing investigations.
Partner with Technical Operations and external manufacturing organizations to resolve product quality issues.
Review analytical results and product quality data to ensure compliance with specifications and requirements.

Investigations, CAPAs, and Change Controls

Review and approve deviations, investigations, CAPAs, and change controls impacting product quality.
Facilitate risk assessments and root cause analyses.
Ensure quality events are appropriately investigated and completed within established timelines.
Monitor quality trends and identify opportunities for proactive improvement.

Regulatory and Inspection Support

Contribute quality input to regulatory filings including INDs, IMPDs, CTAs, BLAs, and NDAs.
Support responses to regulatory agency questions and requests.
Participate in inspection readiness activities and support Health Authority inspections and audits.
Maintain awareness of evolving global regulatory requirements impacting product quality.

Supplier and CMO Management

Support quality oversight of CMOs, CDMOs, laboratories, and other GMP service providers.
Participate in supplier qualification activities and quality reviews.
Review quality agreements and support ongoing supplier performance monitoring.
Collaborate with external partners to ensure compliance with applicable GMP requirements.

Continuous Improvement

Support implementation of quality metrics and monitoring programs.
Identify opportunities to improve quality processes and increase operational efficiency.
Promote a culture of quality, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or other scientific discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 8+ years of quality experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related regulated industries.
Experience supporting clinical-stage products required.
Experience working with external manufacturing organizations required.
Experience supporting regulatory submissions and inspections preferred.
Small molecule development experience preferred; biologics experience a plus.
Strong understanding of cGMP regulations and ICH guidance.
Working knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing, analytical testing, validation, and product lifecycle management.
Strong problem-solving and risk-management skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
Ability to thrive in a collaborative, matrixed organization.

Work Location

The Manager, Product Quailty role is based in the US, with occasional travel.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $105,000.00 to $150,000.00. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge an location.

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. The Company also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

EEOC Statement: Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subdisary of Eli Lilly and Company believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Please note: We will not assign referral rights for any unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.

About the company

Centessa Pharmaceuticals uses an asset-centric hub-and-spoke model formed from ten subsidiary companies to advance multiple therapies. Its lead program ORX750 is an oral orexin receptor 2 agonist for sleep-wake disorders and is in Phase 2a with Phase 2 data expected in 2025. It also develops an early-stage immuno-oncology program based on the LockBody technology, which engineers antibodies to improve cancer treatment. The company funds development through equity, debt, and partnerships and aims to move ORX750 toward regulatory approval while expanding its oncology portfolio.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Boston, Massachusetts

Founded

2021

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

June 24, 2026 acquisition gives Centessa Lilly capital, development scale, and commercial reach.
September 3, 2026 Nxera milestone confirmed advancing late-stage orexin work under Lilly.
Takeda's oveporexton and Alkermes' alixorexton validate a large, active sleep-market.

What critics are saying

Takeda's FDA-reviewed oveporexton steals first-mover advantage in narcolepsy type 1 by 2026.
Lilly integration can redirect resources, shelve ORX489 or ORX142, and cut Centessa headcount.
If cleminorexton disappoints in Phase 3, Lilly's orexin strategy becomes dead capital.

What makes Centessa Pharmaceuticals unique

Centessa built a focused OX2R platform spanning narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and neuropsychiatry.
Lilly paid $6.3 billion upfront, validating cleminorexton's commercial and scientific edge.
Nxera milestones in March and September 2026 show repeatable program-level progress.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Stock Options
Company Equity
Conference Attendance Budget
Professional Development Budget
Telework isn't listed but Remote Work Options covers it
Phone/Internet Stipend
Home Office Stipend

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

Associated Press

Sep 3rd, 2026

Nxera Pharma secures $8.6M milestone payment from Centessa following late-stage development progress

Nxera Pharma will receive an $8.6 million milestone payment from Centessa Pharmaceuticals following late-stage development progress on Centessa's selective orexin receptor 2 agonist portfolio. The payment stems from Nxera's research collaboration with Centessa and will be recognised as revenue in Q3 2026. Centessa, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly following Lilly's acquisition completed in June 2026, achieved the development milestone with its clinical-stage molecules designed to treat diseases associated with sleep-wake regulation and neurological disorders. Nxera retains rights to future development and commercialisation milestones, as well as royalties, related to the programmes. Christopher Cargill, president and CEO of Nxera Pharma, said the portfolio has great potential to address major unmet needs across a broad range of disorders.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Jul 19th, 2026

Talking sleep | live from SLEEP 2026.

Talking sleep | live from SLEEP 2026. Season 8 | episode 12. In this special live episode recorded from the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting in Baltimore, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Sanjay Patel, director of the clinical sleep program at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, to discuss groundbreaking medications for sleep disorders poised for FDA approval in 2026 and 2027. The pharmaceutical landscape for sleep medicine is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Dr. Patel surveys the emerging drug pipeline that will fundamentally change how clinicians treat obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and idiopathic hypersomnia. For obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Patel discusses AD-109 (atomoxetine and R-oxybutynin), explaining the mechanistic rationale and practical considerations including use with tirzepatide. The Incannex drug combining dronabinol and acetazolamide receives analysis for different patient populations, and sultiame is discussed as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor option. A critical framework emerges: Should treatment be symptom-based or airway-focused when PAP-intolerant patients present? Tirzepatide, the GLP-1 agonist FDA-approved for moderate-to-severe OSA, receives comprehensive coverage including muscle loss concerns, long-term use, and emerging oral GLP-1 options. Retatrutide, the triple-hormone agent combining GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, is also discussed. The episode's most exciting segment focuses on orexin agonists for narcolepsy. Three pharmaceutical companies - Alkemeres, Centessa (purchased by Lilly), and Takeda - are developing these mechanistically novel agents. Dr. Patel clarifies how these medications differ, discusses why one medication disrupted nocturnal sleep (suggesting continued roles for oxybates), and addresses how clinicians will choose between similar medications. Dr. Patel emphasizes a fundamental question: Should the field prioritize symptom management versus airway patency for OSA, and mechanistic approaches versus symptom management for narcolepsy? Whether you're interested in emerging OSA treatments, narcolepsy innovations, or the future of pharmacological sleep medicine, this live episode provides essential updates on medications that will soon reshape clinical practice. Join American Academy of Sleep Medicine for this exciting conversation about how sleep medicine will transform in the coming years. Dr. Sanjay R. Patel, an expert in sleep health, is certified in pulmonary disease and sleep medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Patel is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at University of Pittsburgh, and medical director of UPMC Comprehensive Sleep Disorders program. He earned a master's degree in epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed a residency at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Patel's research focuses on the health implications of poor sleep with particular interest on the relationships between sleep and cardiometabolic disease. He directs the Center for Sleep and Cardiovascular Outcomes Research at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published extensively on the subject of obesity management and glucose metabolism with sleep apnea, as well as the association between curtailed sleep and long-term health effects.

PR Newswire

Jun 24th, 2026

Lilly completes acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals to advance treatments for sleep-wake disorders

/PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc. Centessa is a...

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Apr 10th, 2026

Drugs from a text prompt, Wegovy pill competition dampens Lilly's surge.

Drugs from a text prompt, Wegovy pill competition dampens Lilly's surge. April 10, 2026 From designing drugs with a simple text prompt to running experiments guided by extended reality, a new wave of agentic AI is transforming the modern lab. Its editors discuss the latest autonomous systems accelerating biological discovery. In business deals, Gilead Sciences has acquired Tubulis in a transaction worth up to $5 billion, strengthening the buyer's position in antibody-drug conjugates for cancer. Correspondingly, Eli Lilly and Biogen are each making billion-dollar-plus bets, acquiring Centessa, a sleep disorder drug developer, and Apellis, known for its work in immunology and rare diseases. Its episode rounds out by unpacking the dynamic obesity drug market, where intensifying competition from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill is prompting Lilly to temper the 2026 sales outlook for its oral obesity drug, Foundayo. Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

BioSpace

Mar 31st, 2026

Lilly wakes up sleep market with $6.3B Centessa buy to challenge Takeda.

Lilly wakes up sleep market with $6.3B Centessa buy to challenge Takeda. March 31, 2026 | In the buyout, Eli Lilly picks up Centessa Pharmaceuticals' lead asset cleminorexton, which could go toe-to-toe with Takeda's oveporexton, currently under FDA review with a decision expected in the third quarter. Looking to further expand its expertise beyond the cardiometabolic and neurology arenas, Eli Lilly is taking over Centessa Pharmaceuticals and its pipeline of sleep disorder drugs - a move that could put the pharma in direct competition with Takeda. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, announced Tuesday morning, Lilly will snap up Centessa for $38 per share or $6.3 billion upfront. The pharma has also offered a contingent value right that entitles stockholders to $9 more per share if the deal hits certain milestones, including one of two FDA approvals before a certain period of time lapses. This contingent offer could add $1.5 billion more to the total buyout value. Lilly and Centessa expect to close the transaction in the third quarter of 2026. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the deal. At the heart of the acquisition agreement is Centessa's lead asset cleminorexton, an oral orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist being trialed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2 and idiopathic hypersomnia. Orexin is a key neuropeptide that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, according to the biotech's website, in turn promoting wakefulness. Drugs that activate this pathway could help address excessive daytime sleepiness as well as improve attention, cognition and fatigue. In April 2025, Centessa released Phase 1 data showing that a 5-mg oral dose of cleminorexton delayed sleep by an average of 37.9 minutes compared to 15.3 minutes in placebo recipients, resulting in a "statistically significant" treatment effect of 22.6 minutes, the biotech said at the time. This readout "reinforces ORX750 as a potentially best-in-class OX2R agonist relative to competitors," Leerink analysts wrote an April 7, 2025 note. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets said Centessa's orexin receptor agonist has "best-in-class" potential for narcolepsy, putting the company in a strong position in the $15 billion market. April 7, 2025 With the Centessa pickup, Lilly will go toe-to-toe with Takeda, which is far ahead in the narcolepsy race with its late-stage oveporexton, also an OX2R agonist. In July 2025, Takeda announced that oveporexton significantly improved excessive daytime sleepiness, attention, quality of life, functioning and cataplexy in two Phase 3 studies. The FDA accepted Takeda's approval submission for the candidate last month, with a decision out in the third quarter of this year. Also in the narcolepsy game is Alkermes, which in November last year announced that its own OX2R agonist alixorexton aced Phase 2 and would move into late-stage development. The drug improved wakefulness and eased daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy type 2, according to results presented at the time. Alixorexton's Phase II performance sets it up for late-stage success, according to analysts at Truist Securities. Alkermes expects to launch a global late-stage program early next year for narcolepsy type 2. November 13, 2025 Aside from cleminorexton, Lilly will also come into possession of Centessa's broader pipeline of OX2R agonists, which includes additional preclinical assets with therapeutic potential "across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions," the pharma said Tuesday. Tristan is BioSpace 's senior staff writer. Based in Metro Manila, Tristan has more than eight years of experience writing about medicine, biotech and science. He can be reached at [email protected], [email protected] or on LinkedIn.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals

Product Quality Manager

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