Associate Director / Director, Product Development

Associate Director / Director, Product Development
Company Overview:

Avalyn Pharma is developing innovative, inhaled therapies to target the lungs for treatment of rare respiratory diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Avalyn completed an oversubscribed $175M Series C financing in September 2023 to advance our clinical-stage pulmonary fibrosis portfolio consisting of inhaled pirfenidone (AP01), inhaled nintedanib (AP02), and a fixed-dose combination of both (AP03).  Currently, treatment for IPF and PPF includes the oral antifibrotics, pirfenidone and nintedanib.  Due to side effects, 30-50% of patients cannot tolerate these medications.  Avalyn has developed inhaled formulations for these FDA-approved antifibrotics.  AP01 has now been studied in over 150 patients with various forms of pulmonary fibrosis, over at least 48 weeks and some out to 4 years and is phase 2b ready.  PK studies show that AP01 reaches 35 times the concentration in the lung with 1/15th of the systemic concentration compared to historic oral pirfenidone. AP01 has demonstrated efficacy in the ATLAS study, with a high dose achieving near stabilization of lung function and is well tolerated with fewer systemic adverse events vs. historic oral pirfenidone. We have also completed a phase 1a study of AP02, an inhaled formulation of nintedanib, with phase 1b & 2 plans being developed.  Phase 1a positive topline results were announced in March 2023, and AP02 was demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated in normal volunteers & IPF patients in that study.

Avalyn is seeking a highly motivated individual at the Associate Director/Director level to join its Product Development team.  This individual will play a key role in advancing Avalyn’s lead AP01 program and expanding the Avalyn product pipeline to treat rare lung diseases.  This is a remote position and will be reporting to the Senior Vice President, Product Development.

·         Together with SVP Product Development:

o   develop and implement comprehensive plans to meet CMC needs that include drug substance, drug product and analytics

o   plan and execute drug product manufacturing activities for the company to ensure regulatory compliance, quality and timelines are met

o   plan, develop and employ project-specific CMC resource and budget plan to ensure agreed goals and spending targets are met

o   participate in formulation research and Product Development of company pipeline product opportunities

·         Work with senior management and other project team members to select and qualify CMOs/CROs

·         Communicate effectively and transparently with functional heads within pharmaceutical development and other company stakeholders (Quality, Toxicology/DMPK, Clinical/Regulatory, Operations, Project, etc.) 

·         Provide oversight during manufacture of drug products at CMOs

·         Liaise with analytical contract laboratories to oversee shipping and release clinical trial supplies and to monitor drug product stability as required for clinical studies and product registration

·         Work with packaging/labeling CMO to maintain adequate clinical supply inventory to support ongoing clinical studies

·         Provide technical expertise to contribute to new project selection for the company

·         Contribute significantly to lead selection/optimization, formulation development/process and clinical development of pipeline asset(s) selected for program advancement

·         Provide support to CMC writing for regulatory submissions, board update, due diligence, etc.

 

·         A PhD or advanced degree in Pharmaceutics, Chemical Engineering or equivalent with 10+ years of industrial experience

·         Direct experience in formulation development and manufacturing of sterile solution-based drug products (experience in inhalation devices is a plus)

·         Direct experience in managing clinical labeling and packaging of clinical supplies with CMOs

·         Experience in managing CMC/analytical activities at different stages of drug development programs 

·         Have authored relevant pre-IND, IND and NDA CMC/analytical sections 

·         Preference will be given to candidates with direct CMC/analytical experience in approved inhalation drug products