Full-Time

Medical Director

Clinical Science, Solid Tumor

Takeda

Takeda

10,001+ employees

Global biopharmaceutical firm; R&D-driven NMEs

Compensation Overview

$237.2k - $372.8k/yr

+ Short-term and/or long-term incentives + 401(k) company match

Boston, MA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role with approximately 15–25% travel, including possible overnight and international trips.

MD

Category
Biology & Biotech
Required Skills
Google Cloud Platform

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Requirements
  • An MD, combined MD/PhD, or internationally recognized equivalent, plus 5 years of clinical research experience within the pharmaceutical industry, a contract research organization, a health-related consulting company, or academia.
  • Previous experience successfully leading a clinical development team or matrix team with responsibility for studies in multiple regions.
  • Management experience.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and influence stakeholders at all levels, including executive management and external partners.
  • Ability to proactively predict issues and solve problems.
  • Ability to drive decision-making within multidisciplinary, multiregional, matrix teams.
  • Diplomacy and positive influencing abilities.
  • Therapeutic-area knowledge relevant to the mechanism of action.
  • Knowledge of regional and global regulatory requirements.
  • Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and International Council for Harmonisation guidelines.
  • Knowledge of emerging research in the designated therapeutic area.
  • Ability to drive to or fly to various meetings or client sites, including overnight trips; some international travel may be required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and drive the overall global clinical development strategy for assigned pipeline compounds, considering medical, scientific, regulatory, and commercial issues.
  • Lead multidisciplinary, multiregional, matrix teams through complex development decisions and integrate cross-functional input into global clinical development plans.
  • Lead global development teams spanning the United States, Europe, and Japan and align regional development activities with global strategy.
  • Establish and drive development-team strategy and deliverables, including development strategies, clinical development plans, and clinical protocols.
  • Recommend program scope, complexity, and size, and influence the budget for all aspects of a development program.
  • Continuously evaluate development strategies, identify challenges proactively, and develop contingency plans.
  • Monitor and interpret data from ongoing internal and external studies and make high-impact recommendations, including go/no-go decisions and modifications to development plans or study designs.
  • Drive clinical science activities related to preparing and approving synopses and protocols and conducting clinical studies.
  • Advise clinical scientists, and remain accountable for the successful design and interpretation of clinical studies.
  • Present study conclusions to management and determine how study results affect the overall compound strategy.
  • Interpret data from an overall scientific standpoint and in the context of medical significance to individual patients.
  • Conduct medical monitoring, assess protocol-conduct and individual-subject safety issues, and assess overall study and compound safety with Pharmacovigilance.
  • Oversee non-medical clinical scientists in assessing medical-monitoring and safety issues.
  • Make final decisions regarding study conduct and scientific integrity.
  • Direct interactions with regulatory authorities and agencies and establish relationships with key opinion leaders relevant to assigned compounds and therapeutic areas.
  • Lead meetings with regulatory organizations and key opinion leaders and direct the development of briefing reports, meeting materials, and formal responses.
  • Incorporate advice and recommendations from regulators and opinion leaders into clinical-study and program designs.
  • Identify and evaluate business-development opportunities, conduct due-diligence evaluations, and develop and negotiate clinical development plans for alliances and in-licensing opportunities.
  • Assess scientific, medical, and development feasibility and strategic fit with the overall portfolio, including evaluation of clinical trials, regulatory interactions, and future development plans.
  • Interact with senior management of potential partner or acquisition companies during due-diligence visits and alliance negotiations.
  • Serve as the clinical contact for ongoing alliance projects and interface with partners to achieve strategic goals.
  • Represent Clinical Science on internal assessment teams and multidisciplinary task forces.
  • Lead internal and global cross-functional teams as appropriate.
  • Hire, manage, mentor, motivate, empower, develop, and retain staff supporting assigned activities.
  • Conduct performance reviews and drive goal setting and development planning.
Desired Qualifications
  • Training and experience in Hematology/Oncology and/or Medical Oncology, especially in solid tumor malignancies.
  • Experience conducting and/or leading clinical trials involving immune-based therapies and/or antibody-drug conjugates.
  • Late-phase clinical development and NDA/MAA/submission experience.

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 for MIMRYLO unlocks near-term U.S. oncology revenue.
  • Takeda expects ORZEYFUL U.S. launch by November 2026, pending DEA scheduling.
  • Q1 FY2026 new launches grew 22.6%, offsetting mature-brand declines and supporting guidance.

What critics are saying

  • May 18, 2026 AMITIZA verdict exposed Takeda to $2.6 billion treble-damage risk.
  • Takeda plans 4,500 FY2026 cuts, signaling launch execution pressure and organizational churn.
  • Patent erosion crushed VYVANSE sales 60.7% at constant currency in Q1 FY2026.

What makes Takeda unique

  • ORZEYFUL became the first orexin agonist approved for narcolepsy type 1 in 2026.
  • MIMRYLO offers first-in-class hepcidin mimetic therapy for polycythemia vera after FDA approval.
  • Takeda pairs global scale with Japanese discovery, including Shonan-led neurology innovation.

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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%
Associated Press
Sep 9th, 2026
Trialbee unveils AI-powered patient screening chatbot at DPHARM 2026

Trialbee, a patient recruitment platform provider, will present at DPHARM 2026 in Boston on 15-16 September. The Swedish-American company will unveil AI-powered patient screening in its Honey Platform, enabling conversational AI chatbots to conduct initial candidate assessments whilst giving patients the option to speak with recruitment specialists. Trialbee will present jointly with pharmaceutical company Takeda on integrating their respective platforms to build research-ready patient communities that extend beyond single trials. The company will also participate in a panel discussing AI applications at clinical trial sites. The Honey Platform has added several AI features this year, including candidate summaries, duplicate detection, and recruitment data analysis. Trialbee supports over 6,000 research sites across 50 countries and reports a 91% repeat business rate with biopharmaceutical companies.

Associated Press
Sep 9th, 2026
Onco360 selected as specialty pharmacy partner for rare blood cancer drug MIMRYLO

Onco360, a US independent speciality pharmacy, has been selected by Takeda Pharmaceuticals as an ultra-narrow limited distribution partner for MIMRYLO (rusfertide). The treatment is indicated for erythrocytosis in adults with polycythemia vera. MIMRYLO is a mimetic of the endogenous hormone hepcidin that blocks the iron transporter ferroportin. This inhibition reduces iron availability for red blood cell production, resulting in lower hematocrit levels. The drug's approval was based on the phase 3 VERIFY study, a global, randomised, open-label clinical trial. The primary endpoint measured the proportion of patients achieving response during weeks 20-32, defined as the absence of phlebotomy eligibility. The most common adverse reactions were injection site reactions at 56% and anaemia at 16%.

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.