Full-Time

Associate Medical Director

Clinical Science, Ns Tau

Updated on 9/3/2026

Takeda

Takeda

10,001+ employees

Global biopharmaceutical firm; R&D-driven NMEs

Compensation Overview

$198.5k - $311.9k/yr

+ Short-term incentives + Long-term incentives + 401(k) match

Cambridge, MA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role; some on-site days in Cambridge, MA.

PhD, MD

Category
Biology & Biotech

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Requirements
  • MD,MD/PhD, or internationally recognized equivalent plus 3 years of clinical research experience within the pharmaceutical industry, CRO health-related consulting company, or biomedical/clinical experience within academia (or a combination of afore mentioned).
  • Ability to drive to or fly to various meetings or client sites, including overnight trips. Some international travel may be required. Requires approximately –10 - 20% travel.
Responsibilities
  • Represents Clinical Science on Study Execution and Clinical Teams and may serve as co-leader of these teams.
  • Supports the Global Project Team to ensure that the clinical team activities are aligned with the global strategy.
  • May act as Global Clinical Lead for an early clinical stage or preclinical program with significant interactions with translational and biomarker colleagues, and preclinical teams.
  • Contributes to Global Project and clinical team strategy and deliverables working on the Asset Strategy, Clinical Development Plan, Clinical Protocols and other documents needed for study execution. Recommends scope, complexity and size, and influences the budget of all aspects of a study or program.
  • Ongoing work output will involve continual critical evaluation of the development strategy to maintain a state-of-the-art development plan that is competitive and consistent with the latest regulatory requirements, proactive identification of challenges, and development of contingency plans to meet them. Recommends high impact global decisions.
  • Oversees all Clinical Science activities relating to the preparation / approval of Synopses, Protocols and the conduct of clinical studies. Serves as an advisor to other clinical scientists involved in these activities, and be accountable for the successful design and interpretation of clinical studies.
  • Interprets data from an overall scientific standpoint as well as within the context of the medical significance to individual patients.
  • Presents study conclusions to Management and determines how individual study results impact the overall compound strategy.
  • Responsible for medical monitoring activities, assessing issues related to protocol conduct and/or individual subject safety.
  • Assesses overall safety information for studies and compound in conjunction with Pharmacovigilance.
  • Oversees non-medical clinical scientists with respect to assessment of these issues.
  • Makes final decisions regarding study conduct related to scientific integrity.
  • Directs interactions with key opinion leaders relevant to assigned compounds and therapeutic area.
  • Provides leadership in meetings and negotiations with key opinion leaders, establishment of strategy for assigned compounds, and the direction of clinical scientists involved in developing documents required to outline the Company positions on research programs or regulatory applications (e.g. briefing reports), materials used for meeting presentations, and formal responses to communications received from the regulatory organizations or opinion leaders.
  • Leads incorporation of advice / recommendations received into the design of clinical studies and programs as appropriate.
  • Responsible for evaluation of potential business development opportunities and conduct of due diligence evaluations assessing scientific, medical and development feasibility, evaluating complete or ongoing clinical trials, and regulatory interactions and future development plans.
  • Contributes to the development and negotiation of clinical development plans for potential alliances and or in-licensing opportunities, interacts with upper management of potential partner/acquisition companies during DD visits and alliance negotiations and represents clinical science on internal assessment teams.
  • For ongoing alliance projects, will interface with partner to achieve Takeda’s strategic goals while striving to maintain good working relationship between Takeda and partner.
  • Interacts with research division and other function based on pertinent clinical and development expertise to provide knowledge / understanding of market environment in line with status as scientific content matter expert for assigned compounds.
  • Represents clinical science and contributes to or leads internal task forces and Therapeutic Area internal teams as well as global cross-functional teams as appropriate.
  • Mentors, motivates, empowers, develops and retains staff to support assigned activities.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous experience successfully leading matrix teams preferred.
  • Previous experience in designing and executing first in human and early proof of concept trials preferred.
  • Neurology Therapeutic area knowledge preferred.
  • Specialization in Neurology preferred.
  • Subspecialty expertise in neuromuscular disease or neurodegenerative disease preferred.

Takeda is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and delivering medicines and vaccines to improve patient health. It relies on extensive research and development to create new molecular entities (NMEs) and bring them to market, aiming for up to 15 product launches through FY2024 from a pipeline of 11 NMEs. Revenue comes mainly from selling pharmaceutical products, supported by about 41,000 third-party suppliers worldwide. The company differentiates itself through a deep history (over 240 years), a broad portfolio of global brands, and a patient-centric approach that places patients’ needs at the center of its operations while pursuing environmental sustainability. Takeda’s goal is to advance health globally by turning scientific innovations into accessible therapies, maintaining long-term growth through steady product innovation and responsible operations.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

Founded

1781

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 FDA approval of MIMRYLO opened a new U.S. polycythemia vera franchise.
  • ORZEYFUL won U.S., Japan, and China approvals in August 2026, accelerating commercialization.
  • Takeda maintained FY2026 guidance after Q1 2026, with 22.6% growth from new launches.

What critics are saying

  • The May 18, 2026 Amitiza verdict imposed $884.9 million damages, tripling on judgment.
  • Takeda's March 2026 restructuring cuts 4,500 jobs, signaling margin pressure and execution disruption.
  • If ORZEYFUL, MIMRYLO, and zasocitinib underperform, Takeda's mature-brands decline crushes growth.

What makes Takeda unique

  • Takeda’s 2026 launches target first-in-class mechanisms: MIMRYLO, ORZEYFUL, and zasocitinib.
  • Takeda built rare Japan-to-global R&D depth, with oveporexton approved in China, U.S., Japan.
  • Takeda paired discovery teams with Boltz in 2026, embedding AI across research.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Wellness Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Yahoo Finance
Aug 31st, 2026
Takeda wins FDA approval for first-in-class blood cancer drug, triggering $275M payment to Protagonist

The FDA approved Takeda Pharmaceutical's MIMRYLO (rusfertide) for polycythemia vera, a blood cancer causing red blood cell overproduction. The first-in-class drug functions as a hepcidin mimetic, regulating iron distribution to control hematocrit levels and prevent life-threatening complications like strokes and pulmonary embolisms. Approval was based on the Phase 3 VERIFY study involving 293 patients. Those receiving MIMRYLO alongside standard care achieved superior hematocrit control, reduced phlebotomy needs, and improved fatigue compared to placebo. Takeda commercialises MIMRYLO under a 2024 agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics, which discovered the drug. The approval triggers $275 million in payments to Protagonist—a $200 million opt-out fee plus $75 million milestone. Protagonist remains eligible for up to $875 million in additional milestones and tiered royalties of 14% to 29% on worldwide net sales.

Associated Press
Aug 28th, 2026
US FDA approves Takeda's Mimrylo for polycythemia vera treatment

Takeda has received US FDA approval for MIMRYLO (rusfertide), a first-in-class treatment for erythrocytosis in adults with polycythemia vera (PV), a blood cancer. The drug is a hepcidin mimetic that regulates iron distribution and red blood cell overproduction to control hematocrit levels. The approval was supported by the Phase 3 VERIFY study involving 293 PV patients. Results showed MIMRYLO plus standard care demonstrated higher response rates than placebo, including better hematocrit control, reduced phlebotomy needs, and improved fatigue scores. PV affects approximately 90,000 people in the US. An estimated 78% of patients experience uncontrolled hematocrit with current standard care. The most common adverse events were injection site reactions and anaemia. MIMRYLO is administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection. Takeda is working with regulators outside the US for potential global availability.

Associated Press
Aug 24th, 2026
Japan approves Orzeyful as first medicine targeting narcolepsy type 1's underlying cause

Takeda announced Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved ORZEYFUL (oveporexton) for treating narcolepsy type 1 in adults. The oral medication is the first to address the underlying orexin deficiency causing the disease, rather than just managing individual symptoms. Narcolepsy type 1 is a chronic neurological condition characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, disrupted sleep, and other symptoms that significantly impact patients' daily lives. Diagnostic delays average more than 10 years. The approval follows global Phase 3 trials showing statistically significant improvements across the full range of symptoms. Common side effects included insomnia, urinary urgency and frequency, and excessive saliva. ORZEYFUL is also approved in China and the United States. Takeda developed the first-in-class orexin receptor 2 agonist in its Japanese laboratories and plans to launch the treatment quickly.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 5th, 2026
FDA approves Takeda's Orzeyful, first medicine to treat underlying cause of narcolepsy type 1

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Takeda's ORZEYFUL (oveporexton) for treating narcolepsy type 1 in adults. The oral medication is the first orexin receptor 2 agonist approved to address the underlying cause of the disease rather than individual symptoms. Narcolepsy type 1 is a chronic neurological disease affecting approximately 120,000 people in the US. It is driven by orexin deficiency and causes excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, cognitive symptoms and disrupted sleep. Clinical trials showed adults taking ORZEYFUL experienced significant improvements across the full range of symptoms compared to placebo. Takeda is preparing for the US launch, which will proceed following completion of the Drug Enforcement Administration scheduling process. The company describes the approval as potentially redefining how narcolepsy type 1 is managed.

GeekWire
Jul 31st, 2026
AI drug developer Accipiter Bio quietly tops up seed round with $10.5M

Seattle-based biotech startup Accipiter Biosciences has raised an additional $10.5 million, less than a year after emerging from stealth with $12.7 million. The funding, from existing investors including Flying Fish Partners and Takeda, will accelerate the company's drug development programmes. The startup uses AI tools developed at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design to engineer proteins that can bind multiple cellular targets simultaneously. The company has expanded to 22 employees, including researchers who worked under Nobel laureate David Baker. Accipiter Bio has partnerships with Pfizer and Gilead Sciences-owned Kite Pharma, with potential milestone payments exceeding $330 million. The additional funding will enable the company to advance three or four drug candidates into clinical trials, focusing on immunology and oncology.