Full-Time

Senior Scientist

Formulation Development, Research and Development

Nivagen Pharmaceuticals

Nivagen Pharmaceuticals

51-200 employees

Develops, acquires, and markets generic drugs

Compensation Overview

$70k - $90k/yr

+ Yearly bonus eligibility

Sacramento, CA, USA

In Person

Must reside within the Sacramento metro area (approximately 40-mile radius).

PhD

Category
Biology & Biotech (2)
,
Required Skills
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • Ph.D. or Postgraduate degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related field
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in sterile/Injectable pharmaceutical formulation development
  • Strong understanding of formulation principles, excipients, and drug delivery systems
  • Hands-on experience with various formulation techniques and equipment
  • Proven track record of successful formulation development and commercialization
  • Experience with statistical design of experiments (DOE) and data analysis
  • Must live in or be willing to move to the Sacramento Metropolitan Region (approximately 40 miles in radius)
Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, development, and optimization of complex injectable and sterile dosage forms
  • Develop and implement robust formulation development strategies aligned with regulatory guidelines (e.g., Quality by Design, FDA)
  • Apply scientific fundamentals and creative problem-solving skills to solve complex technical issues
  • Conduct rigorous experimental design studies (e.g., factorial design) to achieve project objectives
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Technical Services, Operations, and Regulatory Affairs
  • Define scope, timeline, and resource needs of functional activities and keep team on schedule
  • Participate in evaluation of new product opportunities
  • Ensure timely and high-quality documentation for regulatory submissions
  • Stay updated with all FDA and regulatory requirements/guidelines
  • Provide mentorship and leadership to team members
  • Stay up to date with the latest scientific advancements in formulation development and applying new technologies to improve product performance
  • Author and review technical reports, protocols, and regulatory documents
  • Additional duties and assignments as needed
Nivagen Pharmaceuticals

Nivagen Pharmaceuticals

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Nivagen Pharmaceuticals develops, acquires, and sells generic prescription drugs and OTC products for the North American market. It leverages global partnerships with FDA-approved manufacturing facilities to deliver high-quality, affordable products and collaborates with the world’s best CROs and CRAMs to develop and manufacture niche generics. The company supports small FDA-qualified manufacturers entering the U.S. market and differentiates itself through its ability to launch new generic products and its strong sales and marketing team, rather than relying on a single manufacturing or development approach. Revenue comes from product development, co-development, acquisitions, in-licensing, and providing sales and marketing services. Nivagen aims to grow its portfolio by forging CRO/CRAM partnerships, acquiring existing products, and expanding its product lineup to capture a larger share of the evolving generic and OTC market in North America.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$26M

Headquarters

Sacramento, California

Founded

2009

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • PAI Pharma's January 6, 2026 acquisition brings Olympus-backed capital and distribution.
  • Owning the Sacramento site after February 2026 strengthens expansion and regulatory control.
  • Shortage-sensitive injectable demand supports faster commercialization for Nivagen's RTU pipeline.

What critics are saying

  • Nivagen's zinc oxide Class II recall, started October 31, 2025, remains ongoing.
  • California recalled atorvastatin tablets in September 2024 for a carbamazepine mix-up.
  • Repeated cGMP failures or sterile contamination would trigger FDA shutdowns and destroy hospital trust.

What makes Nivagen Pharmaceuticals unique

  • Sacramento's 100,000-square-foot sterile facility makes Nivagen unusually domestic for injectables.
  • Nivagen built over 20 ready-to-use sterile injectables before PAI Pharma's January 2026 acquisition.
  • Its 503B compounding and CDMO services target shortage-driven hospital demand directly.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

401 (k) savings plan

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-7%
PE Hub
Jan 6th, 2026
Olympus-backed PAI Pharma picks up Nivagen Pharmaceuticals

Olympus-backed PAI Pharma picks up Nivagen Pharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, PAI is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of oral liquid medicines. * Nivagen operates an aseptic manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California, designed to support the production of IV bags, vials, prefilled syringes, and cartridges * Nivagen was founded in 2009 PAI Pharma, which is backed by Olympus Partners, has acquired Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a Sacramento, California-based pharmaceutical company. No financial terms were disclosed. Gain instant access to our expert editorial analysis and in-depth insight. Already have an account? Sign in.

Benzinga
Jan 6th, 2026
PAI Pharma acquires Nivagen to expand US sterile injectable manufacturing amid persistent drug shortages

PAI Pharma, a portfolio company of Olympus Partners, has acquired Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, a California-based pharmaceutical company specialising in ready-to-use sterile injectables. The deal expands PAI's domestic manufacturing capabilities and addresses persistent drug shortages in the US healthcare system. Nivagen operates a state-of-the-art aseptic manufacturing facility in Sacramento, producing IV bags, vials, prefilled syringes and cartridges. The company brings over 20 injectable products to complement PAI's existing sterile portfolio of approximately 10 products in development and four on the market. The acquisition aligns with growing efforts to reshore pharmaceutical production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. PAI Pharma was advised by Bourne Partners, Kirkland & Ellis and KPMG, whilst Olympus Partners provided backing for the transaction.

Private Equity Info
Aug 22nd, 2022
Corbel Capital Partners invests into Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Corbel Capital Partners invested in Nivagen Pharmaceuticals (Sacramento, CA, US), a specialty pharmaceuticals business that develops and sells generic and branded prescription drugs.