Full-Time

VP – Business Development

Posted on 11/19/2024

Verge Genomics

Verge Genomics

51-200 employees

Develops drugs using human genomics and AI

AI & Machine Learning
Biotechnology

Compensation Overview

$245k - $285kAnnually

Senior, Expert

Remote in USA

Category
Business Development
Business & Strategy
Requirements
  • 10-12 years of experience in business development within a Pharma or Biotech setting
  • Advanced degree (PhD, MD, and/or MBA), coupled with a significant aptitude—and love for—complex scientific discussions
  • Substantial experience dealing with corporate partners, including negotiating and executing agreements across a variety of types, including licensing deals, co-development partnerships, collaborations, M&A, and strategic alliances; significant deal sheet consisting of completed buy-side as well as sell-side transactions for drug/therapeutic assets
  • Robust experience in identifying, evaluating, and executing licensing deals in biotech and/or pharma
  • Comprehensive understanding of drug discovery and development
  • Thorough understanding of biopharmaceutical industry trends and competitive landscape combined with a deep scientific understanding, business acumen
  • Ability to generate and/or champion new creative high-value ideas
  • Ability to lead and inspire a high performing cross-functional team, with a demonstrated ability to forge relationships, and experience with effective conflict/issue resolution and time-critical project management
  • Ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, and demonstrated ability to build effective coalitions to move deals forward.
  • Ability to perform financial modeling, asset valuation, and deal analyses as part of business cases for deals
  • Ability to navigate change and ambiguity all the while driving for clarity and ideal outcomes
  • A passion for making an impact on patients
Responsibilities
  • Identify, evaluate, and execute business development opportunities across all stages of development.
  • Define and execute Verge’s BD strategy with a focus on establishing the business case for various in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities.
  • Demonstrate an open and creative approach to deal structure and partnership models to optimally achieve Verge’s pipeline and platform objectives.
  • Lead robust partnership and licensing processes and discussions, including deep due diligence, drafting and negotiating term sheets, working closely with the legal team on collaboration agreements, and collecting feedback from various internal stakeholders.
  • Responsible for formal due diligence output and integration of internal and KOL input, and executive management review and approval.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to structure optimal partnership frameworks, including with research, development, clinical, finance, IP, legal, and project management to drive partnerships forward and ensure long term success.
  • Work closely with R&D and operations teams to define financial and operational requirements with clearly defined strategic rationale.
  • Develop meaningful key relationships with senior management, Board, advisors and potential partner companies.

Verge Genomics develops drugs for severe diseases like ALS, Parkinson's Disease, and Frontotemporal Dementia using human genomics and machine learning. Instead of traditional animal models, they create a large database from human tissue to better understand disease causes. Their AI platform, CONVERGE®, helps analyze this data to identify potential drug candidates. Their first drug, VRG50635, is already in clinical trials for ALS, showcasing their ability to quickly transition from research to clinical application. Verge Genomics aims to provide effective treatments for patients and generate revenue through the commercialization of their drug candidates.

Company Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$130.5M

Headquarters

South San Francisco, California

Founded

2015

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

-6%

1 year growth

-10%

2 year growth

17%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Verge Genomics' partnerships with industry giants like Alexion and AstraZeneca highlight its credibility and potential for impactful collaborations.
  • The initiation of the Phase 1b proof-of-concept study for VRG50635 demonstrates the company's progress and commitment to addressing severe diseases like ALS.
  • Collaborations with companies like Stem Pharm to develop disease models for Parkinson's disease indicate a broadening pipeline and diversified research focus.

What critics are saying

  • The reliance on AI and machine learning for drug discovery may face skepticism and slower adoption in the traditionally conservative pharmaceutical industry.
  • The competitive landscape in AI-driven drug discovery is intensifying, with numerous companies vying for market share.

What makes Verge Genomics unique

  • Verge Genomics leverages an all-in-human, AI-powered platform, CONVERGE®, to discover and develop drugs, bypassing traditional animal or cell models.
  • Their proprietary multi-omics database, built from human tissue, allows for more accurate mapping of disease causes compared to competitors.
  • The rapid transition of their drug VRG50635 from research to clinical trials in just four years showcases their platform's efficiency.

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Benefits

Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with employer matching for contributions

Disability insurance, Life insurance, Dependant Care FSA and Healthcare FSA

Unlimited paid time off

Paid parental leave

Access to free onsite fitness center

Free snacks and lunch for employees who work onsite

WFH stipend for employees who work remotely