Alternative Careers in Pharma and Biotechnology

1. Alternative Careers in Pharmaand Biotechnology Douglas Buckley Ph.D. May 13, 2011 Alternative Career Symposium Baylor College of Medicine

2. Outline • Company organization • Scientific roles in various divisions • Jobs that span the continuum • Impacts of organization size • Brief notes on the job search • Keys to success in industry

3. Company Organization Research Discovery Development Commercial Ops Marketing • Research – Target discovery and validation • Discovery – Target prosecution, NCE development • Development – IND through Ph. III activities • Commercial Ops – Product manufacturing, QC, distribution and logistics • Marketing – Pricing, advertising, competitive positioning, physician support, patient support

4. Scientific Roles in Divisions • Research • Focus is on target identification and validation • Team may be self-contained or matrixed • Team may include: • Cell Biology • Genetics • Genomics • Protein Sciences • Pharmacology Deliverable is a screen-ready target

5. Scientific Roles in Divisions • Discovery • Focus is on pharmaceutical discovery • Team is generally matrixed • Team may include: • High-throughput screening • Cell Biology • Medicinal Chemistry or Protein Engineering • Genomics • Crystallography • ADME • Pharmacology and Toxicology Deliverable is an IND-ready product

6. Scientific Roles in Divisions • Development • Focus is on moving product through clinical trials • Team is generally matrixed • Team includes: • Clinical Research and Clinical Sciences • Pharmacology and Toxicology • Biostatistics, Programing, and Data Management • Process Development • Formulations • Clinical Operations • Regulatory Affairs Deliverable is a New Drug Application (NDA)

7. Scientific Roles in Divisions • Commercial Operations • Focus is on assuring drug supply to the patient • Team is generally matrixed • Team includes: • Manufacturing • Quality Control and Quality Assurance • Logistics • Regulatory Affairs Deliverable is an uninterrupted drug supply

8. Jobs That Span the Continuum • Translational Medicine • Companion Diagnostics • Medical Writing • Project and Program Management • Alliance Management • Business Development • Legal Services

9. Don’t forget – CROs do all of these jobs too!

10. Impacts of Organization Size • Large Pharma • Hire for a specific role • Mentoring more available • Organizational rigidity • Higher bureaucratic load • Higher salaries • Small Start-up • Premium placed on flexibility • Learn as you go • Rapid change and adaptation • Fast decisions, many mistakes • Equity participation

11. Notes on the Job Search • Network, Network, Network! • PI • Collaborators • Past grad students and post-docs • You are always in the job search • Seminars • Meetings and poster sessions • Social situations and elevators • Work on your 30-second drill • Two minutes in the hallway with a smartphone can make you informed rather than clueless!

12. Keys to Success in Industry • Know what success looks like to your boss • Doing exceptional work at your current job opens the door to new opportunities • Train your successor in order to be able to move out of your current position • Ask your boss, your peers, and your subordinates what you need to do to improve • Actively communicate • Acknowledge the contributions of others • Be nice to the Administrative Assistants!

13. Thanks to all of my mentors and colleagues!