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Full-Time

Scientist I

Biophysics

Posted on 8/26/2024

Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics

201-500 employees

Develops drugs for muscle function improvement

Biotechnology
Healthcare

Compensation Overview

$128k - $156kAnnually

Junior, Mid

San Bruno, CA, USA

Category
Bioinformatics
Computational Biology
Genomics
Public Health
Biology Lab & Research
Biology & Biotech
Required Skills
Data Analysis
Requirements
  • PhD in biophysics, biochemistry or a related scientific discipline with 2+ years of impactful experience in the pharmaceutical / biotechnology industry
  • Highly skilled in quantifying the affinity and kinetics of molecular interactions between proteins, ligands & biomolecules by SPR, ITC, MST, BLI
  • Hands-on experience in operating and maintaining the performance of biophysical assay platforms from Cytiva (eg, Biacore T200, 8K+) or NanoTemper (eg, Dianthus, Monolith) or Sartorius (eg, Octet)
  • Expertise in assessing aggregation, sizing and thermal stability of proteins expressed by a variety of mammalian & non-mammalian systems and an understanding of the development of fluorescence-based binding assays for profiling small molecules
  • Well-versed in experiment design with ability to analyze and interpret complex kinetic and mechanistic data
  • Strong background in molecular biology with experience purifying native or recombinant proteins of interest, including membrane proteins and multiprotein complexes
  • Highly-organized and productive with excellent analytical, problem-solving & communication skills coupled with an ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in multiple disciplines including structural biology and chemistry
Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute label-free biophysical and biochemical assays to enable characterization of molecular interactions between proteins, ligands, DNA & other biomolecules
  • Collaborate with structural biologists and assay developers to define protein construct strategies and implement reagent generation plans
  • Characterize the affinity and kinetics of interactions between endogenous & synthetic ligands and their putative binding pockets on challenging drug targets, including membrane proteins and multiprotein complexes involved in signal transduction
  • Elucidate molecular mechanisms of enzymes and their functionally-relevant interactions with substrates, co-factors & pharmacological modulators
  • Conduct fragment screening campaigns and facilitate the rational design of therapeutic agents by advancing the understanding of structure-activity relationships of novel chemical series
  • Maximize productivity and throughput by streamlining biophysical assay processes & workflows and by leveraging the capabilities of automated instrumentation and liquid-handlers
  • Contribute to the optimization of an informatics system for registering biophysical data & results in internal databases
  • Document accurate records of experimental procedures, results, data analysis & interpretation and present findings to cross-functional project teams and research leadership
  • Maintain current knowledge of advances in biophysical & label-free techniques and contribute to the identification, evaluation & implementation of new enabling technologies and methodologies

Cytokinetics focuses on developing medicines that improve muscle function for patients with cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases. Their products are small molecule drugs designed to either enhance or inhibit muscle function, tailored to specific therapeutic needs. The company has a pipeline of drugs, including omecamtiv mecarbil and reldesemtiv, which are in various stages of clinical trials. Unlike many competitors, Cytokinetics emphasizes rigorous scientific research and has conducted over 50 clinical trials to ensure the effectiveness of its treatments. The goal is to bring new therapies to market that address the unmet needs of patients suffering from conditions like heart failure, ALS, and HCM.

Company Stage

IPO

Total Funding

$1.2B

Headquarters

South San Francisco, California

Founded

1998

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

20%
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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Successful Phase III trial results for aficamten in treating obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) highlight the company's potential for market leadership in this area.
  • The $575M funding from Royalty Pharma ensures strong financial support for the commercial launch of aficamten and further R&D activities.
  • Recent investments and stock offerings indicate strong investor confidence and provide additional capital for growth and development.

What critics are saying

  • The late-stage biopharmaceutical market is highly competitive, with significant pressure to bring drugs to market quickly and efficiently.
  • Dependence on the success of clinical trials and regulatory approvals poses inherent risks, as any setbacks could delay commercialization and revenue generation.

What makes Cytokinetics unique

  • Cytokinetics focuses on muscle function improvement for cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases, a niche area with high unmet medical needs.
  • The company has a robust pipeline of small molecule muscle activators and inhibitors, setting it apart from competitors with more generalized drug portfolios.
  • Strategic funding collaborations, such as the $575M deal with Royalty Pharma, provide significant financial backing for their R&D and commercialization efforts.

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