Full-Time

Director – Clinical Scientist

Kailera Therapeutics

Kailera Therapeutics

51-200 employees

Clinical-stage obesity and metabolic drugs developer

Compensation Overview

$196k - $240k/yr

+ Bonus + Equity Grants

Waltham, MA, USA

Hybrid

On-site 3–4 days per week in Waltham, MA.

Category
Biology & Biotech (2)
,
Required Skills
biostatistics
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides
Requirements
  • 8+ years of extensive hands-on experience supporting clinical trials in a clinical development role
  • Demonstrated experience reviewing and interpreting clinical trial data listings
  • Strong understanding of clinical trial conduct and cross-functional trial workflows
  • Proven ability to partner effectively with Clinical Operations
  • Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and execution skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Advanced PowerPoint skills; working knowledge of Excel and other commonly used clinical systems/tools
  • Ability to manage multiple studies and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Advanced degree in life sciences discipline (PhD, PharmD, MS, or equivalent)
Responsibilities
  • Support the Medical lead for one or more Phase I–III clinical studies
  • Support studies across the full trial lifecycle, from start-up through database lock and reporting
  • Lead ongoing review of clinical trial data listings, including adverse events, laboratory data, concomitant medications, vitals, ECGs, and safety outputs
  • Identify data trends, inconsistencies, and potential issues; partner with Data Management, Biostatistics, and Safety to resolve them
  • Act as a close scientific partner to Clinical Operations to deliver on trial execution
  • Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including Clinical Operations, Data Management, Biostatistics, Programming, Safety, and Regulatory
  • Author, review, and contribute to trial documents, such as protocols, amendments, Investigator’s Brochures, and Clinical Study Reports
  • Develop and deliver clear, well-structured presentations to study teams and internal leadership
  • Drive execution, follow-through, and accountability across multiple concurrent deliverables
  • Be flexible with travel and attend site related clinical development activities; form and maintain relationships with KOL’s
Desired Qualifications
  • None

Kailera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on obesity and related metabolic conditions, acquiring externally sourced drug candidates to advance multiple assets into clinical development. Its lead program, KAI-9531, is an injectable dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors for obesity and type 2 diabetes, with a pipeline that also includes an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist (KAI-7535), an oral tablet form of KAI-9531, and an injectable tri-agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors (KAI-4729). The company secured exclusive rights to develop four metabolic assets from Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals and is backed by a roughly $400 million Series A to accelerate development. Led by CEO Ron Renaud and with a board chaired by John F. Milligan, Kailera aims to bring multiple metabolic therapies toward commercialization to improve patient outcomes.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Waltham, Massachusetts

Founded

2024

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $718.8M IPO in April 2026 funds three global Phase 3 ribupatide trials.
  • Hengrui partnership delivers China Phase 3 data and advances oral ribupatide.
  • No GI discontinuations in Phase 2 supports superior tolerability profile.

What critics are saying

  • Zepbound captures 60% market share, blocks Kailera reimbursement by 2028.
  • Pfizer-Metsera accelerates oral GLP-1 Phase 3, erodes Kailera edge in 2027.
  • KaiNETIC-1/2/3 miss superiority endpoints, fail FDA approval in 2028.

What makes Kailera Therapeutics unique

  • Oral ribupatide achieves 12.1% weight loss at 26 weeks without plateau.
  • Ribupatide shows 17.7% weight loss in Chinese Phase 3 versus 1.4% placebo.
  • Pipeline spans injectable dual, oral, and tri-agonists targeting GLP-1/GIP/glucagon.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Wellness Program

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Performance Bonus

Tuition Reimbursement

Commuter Benefits

Disability and Life Insurance

Equity Grants

Stock Options

Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Flexible Time Off

Flexible Work Hours

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Tuition Reimbursement

Commuter Benefits

Phone/Internet Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Mental Health Support

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Tuition Reimbursement

Company News

Kailera Therapeutics
Apr 18th, 2026
Kailera Therapeutics Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering | Thu, 04/16/2026 - 19:25

WALTHAM, Mass., April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kailera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KLRA) (Kailera), an advanced clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on elevating the next era of obesity care, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 39,062,500 shares of its common

Hoodline
Mar 30th, 2026
Waltham obesity-drug upstart races toward IPO after near-billion cash haul.

Waltham obesity-drug upstart races toward IPO after near-billion cash haul. Published on March 30, 2026 Kailera Therapeutics, the Waltham biotech working on next-generation obesity medicines, filed paperwork on March 30, 2026 to go public after pulling in nearly $1 billion in private capital. Operating from a growing Waltham campus, the company has scaled to roughly 145 employees while pushing forward a pipeline of injectable and oral GLP-1 and multi-agonist drug candidates. The IPO move caps a rapid rise for a venture-backed outfit that now wants public-market cash to fuel global late-stage trials. According to the Boston Business Journal, Kailera has formally submitted documents signaling plans for an initial public offering. The outlet reports the company has attracted close to $1 billion in private funding and employs about 145 people in the Boston suburbs. Near-Billion war chest fuels IPO ambitions. Kailera emerged from stealth with a $400 million launch financing and later added a $600 million Series B, giving it roughly $1 billion in commitments earmarked for late-stage development. Industry reporting indicates Bain Capital and other major investors led that follow-on round and that the capital is intended to support global Phase 3 programs and broader development efforts, according to FierceBiotech. Late-Stage data and A pill on deck. Kailera's lead program focuses on ribupatide (KAI-9531), including a once-daily oral version that the companies say delivered mean weight loss of up to 12.1% at 26 weeks in a Phase 2 obesity trial in China. A press release from Kailera Therapeutics notes that Hengrui plans to move the oral candidate into Phase 3 in China while Kailera pursues global studies. The executive roster lists Ron Renaud as the company's president and chief executive officer, per Kailera Therapeutics. Next steps and what it means for Waltham. The IPO filing starts the Securities and Exchange Commission review and investor outreach that typically precede a public offering, with timing and pricing still dependent on market conditions. If completed, the deal proceeds would likely go toward funding global Phase 3 trials and expanding Kailera's research operations in Waltham, with the potential for additional local hiring and lab buildout. The IPO window has been more receptive this year to well-capitalized, late-stage biotechs, which could make a 2026 public debut more attainable for Kailera, according to FierceBiotech.

MENA Fintech Association
Dec 1st, 2025
Kailera Therapeutics files for US IPO to fund obesity drugs.

Kailera Therapeutics files for US IPO to fund obesity drugs. Powered by Kailera Therapeutics files for US IPO to advance obesity drug pipeline. SAN DIEGO, United States - March 27, 2026 - Kailera Therapeutics Inc. filed confidentially for a US initial public offering to fund development of its obesity drug candidates. The company targets a Nasdaq listing under ticker KLRA, with proceeds supporting late-stage trials of lead asset ribupatide. The move capitalizes on surging investor interest in GLP-1 therapies amid a global obesity treatment boom. Overview. Kailera, a clinical-stage biotechnology company incorporated in May 2024, submitted its S-1 registration statement to the SEC without disclosing share count, price range, or anticipated proceeds. Net proceeds will fund ribupatide (KAI-9531, a Phase 3 injectable GLP-1/GIP dual agonist), oral ribupatide (Phase 2 planned), KAI-7535 (oral GLP-1, US Phase 2 planned), and KAI-4729 (a Phase 1 tri-agonist). J.P. Morgan and Jefferies serve as underwriters. The company reported a $149 million net loss in 2025 and $368.7 million accumulated deficit, with $546 million cash as of December 2025. Announcement specifics. Kailera, a clinical-stage biotechnology company incorporated in May 2024, submitted its S-1 registration statement to the SEC without disclosing share count, price range, or anticipated proceeds. Net proceeds will fund ribupatide (KAI-9531, a Phase 3 injectable GLP-1/GIP dual agonist), oral ribupatide (Phase 2 planned), KAI-7535 (oral GLP-1, US Phase 2 planned), and KAI-4729 (a Phase 1 tri-agonist). J.P. Morgan and Jefferies serve as underwriters. The company reported a $149 million net loss in 2025 and $368.7 million accumulated deficit, with $546 million cash as of December 2025. Executive commentary. "With an increasing global population affected by obesity and limited options for those living with higher BMIs, the need for effective treatment options has never been greater." - Ron Renaud, CEO at Kailera Therapeutics Why it matters: This statement underscores Kailera's strategy to compete with market leaders like Eli Lilly's Zepbound by targeting underserved patient populations, with clinical data showing ribupatide achieving up to 23.6% weight loss. Industry context. The obesity treatment market has exploded, dominated by Novo Nordisk's semaglutide and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide. Kailera in-licensed its pipeline from China's Hengrui Pharma and raised $400 million in Series A funding in 2024, followed by a $600 million Series B round in 2025 led by Bain Capital and Atlas Venture, with participation from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). QIA's Series B investment signals growing MENA sovereign wealth interest in high-growth biotechnology, potentially catalyzing additional regional capital deployment into global health innovation. Kailera's diversified pipeline - spanning injectable and oral formulations - addresses adherence challenges and efficacy gaps for higher-BMI patients in a market projected to exceed $100 billion. Outlook. The IPO positions Kailera to accelerate Phase 3 clinical readouts expected in 2027-2028, intensifying competition in the obesity therapeutics sector. Success depends on trial data differentiation and pricing strategy amid an increasingly crowded competitive landscape. Reach industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in the fintech community. Submit Your PR

Dealroom.co
Oct 15th, 2025
Kailera Therapeutics company information, funding & investors

Kailera Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharma company advancing a diverse therapeutic pipeline aimed at delivering innovative treatments for obesity and related conditions. Here you'll find information about their funding, investors and team.

STAT News
Oct 14th, 2025
Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million

Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million. The financing round is one of the biggest in biotech this year. Investors announced one of the biggest private financing rounds of the year for a biotech company Tuesday, pouring $600 million into obesity startup Kailera Therapeutics. Bain Capital's private equity group led the financing, which also included Royalty Pharma and sovereign wealth funds in Canada and Qatar. Several of Kailera's founding investors also put more money into the company. The deal underlines the persistent heightened attention being paid to weight loss drugs, even after multiple years of activity and some clinical disappointments. Kailera's Series B round was announced almost exactly one year after the startup launched with $400 million. It also comes shortly after Pfizer announced plans to buy another privately held obesity drug developer, Metsera, for $4.9 billion.