Full-Time

Senior Medical Science Liaison

Nephrology

Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Otsuka Pharmaceutical

1,001-5,000 employees

Global pharma maker of Abilify

Compensation Overview

$169.2k - $253k/yr

+ Incentive opportunity

Remote in USA

Remote

Must live in the territory; preferred living location is San Francisco. Business travel may be up to 70% by air or car.

PhD, MD

Category
Biology & Biotech (1)

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Requirements
  • MD, DO, PharmD, or PhD in life sciences is required.
  • Previous training or experience as a Medical Science Liaison supporting nephrology programs or in other medical affairs roles in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Deep understanding of the interconnectivity of health systems and overall delivery of patient care, with experience working with healthcare professionals and other decision makers.
  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical industry Medical Affairs is required.
  • Strong business acumen and knowledge of the industry, Otsuka's business model and value proposition, key competitors, and other marketplace factors and dynamics.
  • Ability to identify solutions with the overall goal of improved patient outcomes.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, professional maturity, confidence, and competence.
  • Strong conflict resolution skills and the ability to achieve conflict resolution effectively and quickly with affected parties and work in a cross-functional environment.
  • Ability to lead others and project teams strategically.
  • Ability to summarize and communicate complex information and business objectives concisely and effectively during presentations and other interactions.
  • Strong understanding of the industry's legal, regulatory, and compliance landscape.
  • Ability to work in an ambiguous environment undergoing transformation.
  • Business travel by air or car up to 70% of the time, depending on territory size.
  • Must live in the territory.
Responsibilities
  • Contribute a clinical and scientific perspective to the local execution plan addressing customer challenges, issues, and opportunities to improve patient care and outcomes, including coordination around field activities.
  • Build, cultivate, and leverage external relationships with key scientific and medical customers and organizations within the territory, including Key Influencers, Local Practice Leaders, Key Decision Makers, and patient advocacy organizations.
  • Maintain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem to ensure alignment with Otsuka's patient-centric strategy and priorities, including optimal patient care.
  • Provide evidence-based information demonstrating the clinical, economic, and humanistic value of Otsuka and its products, and partner with providers and other stakeholders to apply practical real-world solutions to improve patient outcomes.
  • Build and cultivate internal working relationships across the matrix team to support an enterprise approach when working with customers.
  • Shape and execute local medical strategies within planned timelines in collaboration with regional Field Medical Affairs leadership.
  • Lead special projects requested by management and take on incremental point roles within Field Medical Affairs.
  • Disseminate disease-state and healthcare-landscape information to customers in the field according to priorities.
  • Provide clinical and data-focused training for promotional and disease-state speakers.
  • Serve as part of Otsuka's speaker bureau to support product educational needs across the territory.
  • Collect and submit medical insights that drive decision making and prioritization of evidence-generation efforts and healthcare solutions, including sharing insights at the local ecosystem level.
  • Assist with Otsuka's clinical trials program, including registrational, post-marketing, and Investigator-Sponsored Trials; health economic outcomes research; and other medical collaborations.
  • Provide clinical expertise and feedback regarding the operational management of clinical trials to support optimal site selection and performance.
  • Participate as a mentor in peer functional and therapeutic development, including development of new hires.
  • Support Safety and Pharmacovigilance in investigating safety-related issues.
  • Support Sales Training medical education on an ongoing basis, including new-hire training and POAs.
  • Support the Field Medical Center of Excellence by mentoring and sharing best practices.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous training or experience in immune mediated kidney disease.
  • Preferred living location is San Francisco.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Otsuka Pharmaceutical

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Otsuka Pharmaceutical develops and markets medicines and health products worldwide, including prescription drugs and nutraceutical beverages. Its product lineup ranges from pharmaceutical treatments such as Abilify (an antipsychotic) to consumer health drinks like Pocari Sweat, which helps replenish electrolytes. Abilify works as a psychiatric medication used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while Pocari Sweat is an ion-replacement beverage designed to restore minerals and fluids after activity or heat. The company differentiates itself through a long history dating back to its founding in 1921, a broad, globally scaled portfolio spanning drugs and health beverages, and a focus on health improvements across populations. Its stated goal is to create new products for better health worldwide.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

Founded

1921

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Otsuka closed Transcend in June 2026, expanding psychiatry beyond Abilify dependence.
  • DAWNZERA gained EU authorization in January 2026, opening paid sales across 27 countries.
  • Paradise uRDN and CART BP pro broaden Japan's hypertension platform and device distribution.

What critics are saying

  • SIMTRIYO waits on DEA scheduling, delaying revenue until late 2026.
  • VOYXACT's accelerated approval depends on confirmatory kidney-outcome data; failure risks withdrawal.
  • Transcend's TSND-201 PTSD program remains clinical-stage, risking a $1.225 billion write-down.

What makes Otsuka Pharmaceutical unique

  • Otsuka pairs CNS, nephrology, and device assets across Japan, US, and Europe.
  • SIMTRIYO gives Otsuka a first-in-class ADHD stimulant franchise after July 2026 FDA approval.
  • DAWNZERA and VOYXACT anchor rare-disease pipelines with global reimbursement and accelerated paths.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Assistance

Paid Holidays

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Associated Press
Jul 25th, 2026
FDA approves Otsuka's Simtriyo, first-in-class ADHD treatment for adults and children 6+

Otsuka Pharmaceutical has received FDA approval for SIMTRIYO (centanafadine), the first norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin reuptake inhibitor for treating ADHD in adults and children aged six years and older weighing at least 20kg. The once-daily extended-release capsule will be available later this year following DEA scheduling. The approval is based on four Phase 3 clinical trials showing statistically significant improvements in ADHD symptoms compared to placebo, with benefits observed as early as week one. Common side effects include decreased appetite, nausea, rash, and headache. ADHD affects approximately 7 million children and 15.5 million adults in the US. The drug carries boxed warnings for suicidal ideation in pediatric patients and potential for abuse and addiction.

SonoThera
Jun 10th, 2026
SonoThera Closes Oversubscribed $125 Million Series B Financing to Advance Clinical Development of Ultrasound-Mediated Nonviral Genetic Medicines - SonoThera

SAN FRANCISCO–SonoThera, a biotechnology company developing next-generation genetic medicines to address the root causes of disease, today announced the closing of an oversubscribed $125 million Series B financing round to advance its lead programs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) into the clinic and expand its pipeline of targeted, redosable genetic medicines.

Dealroom.co
Mar 27th, 2026
Transcend Therapeutics company information, funding & investors

Transcend Therapeutics, developing the next generation of psychoactive compounds for neuropsychiatry focused on patient access. Here you'll find information about their funding, investors and team.

Fierce Biotech
Mar 27th, 2026
Otsuka buys Transcend Therapeutics for $700M upfront in psychiatric drugs deal

Otsuka Pharmaceutical has acquired Transcend Therapeutics for $700 million upfront through its subsidiary Otsuka America, with potential milestone payments of up to $525 million. The deal gives Otsuka access to Transcend's MDMA analogue for psychiatric conditions currently in development.

Associated Press
Mar 25th, 2026
Otsuka's Voyxact shows 82.5% hematuria improvement in IgA nephropathy trial at 48 weeks

Otsuka presented new Phase 3 VISIONARY trial data for VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) in IgA nephropathy patients at the 2026 ISN World Congress of Nephrology. The analyses showed 82.5% of patients receiving sibeprenlimab achieved negative microscopic hematuria at week 48, compared with 52.6% on placebo. Median time to achieve hematuria negativity was nine weeks versus 24 weeks for placebo. VOYXACT, approved under accelerated approval in the US, is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits APRIL, a key driver in IgAN pathogenesis. Previously reported data showed the drug met its primary endpoint with a 51.2% placebo-adjusted reduction in proteinuria at nine months. The trial continues evaluating sibeprenlimab's effect on preserving kidney function over 24 months.