Posting date:
22/07/2022
Preclinical build-out for
multinational stealth biotech
Case study
The overview
We partnered with a stealth biotech, based in Boston, MA, to build-out their vector development, preclinical, bioanalytical, pharmacology, toxicology and program management teams.
Our partner’s corporate objectives were to submit their first IND in early 2022 and move multiple programs into clinical trials every year in both the US and China. They had just signed a lease on a large lab space and had ambitious hiring plans to meet their aggressive timelines.
The challenge
As a new company in stealth mode, they had no reputation and very little information about them was available online which made it challenging to engage potential candidates.
To develop gene therapies for global markets, our partner needs to develop drugs that are more affordable than current treatments so could not compete with biotechs offering record high compensation packages for AAV gene therapy experts.
With operations in both the US and China, it was crucial for them to develop a culture and reputation that US candidates would resonate with, which would enable them to attract and retain the best US talent.
Furthermore, the company had very aggressive timelines and planned to build a team capable of delivering multiple INDs per year.
The solution
Our team met with key stakeholders including the CEO, CDO, and department heads, to gain a detailed understanding of our partner’s strategic aims and advised on the hires that would be needed to achieve them.
We agreed an exclusive hiring partnership with them which enabled us to commit additional resources to the project and engage candidates by taking a consistent value proposition to market. We also provided a single point of contact and set up weekly alignment calls with key stake holders as well as regular site meetings.
We implemented a flexible resource model, with 1-3 specialist recruiters sourcing for their roles at any one time dependant on hiring needs and worked consultatively with HR stakeholders to share feedback from the market to enable them to enhance candidate experience and optimize their online presence and reputation.
The outcome
As their exclusive recruitment partner, we played an instrumental role in helping them double in size over a 12-month period and build out an industry-leading gene therapy research team.
We attracted experts from multiple AAV gene therapy competitors, including start-ups and big pharma, who brought a diverse range of skills and knowledge of various diseases.
As well as building strong research lab teams, we also helped them hire leaders to establish translational teams who had the expertise required to take programs into clinic.
Positions filled included Head of Toxicology and Pharmacology, multiple Program Leaders for Ophthalmology and CNS, and multiple Principal and Senior Scientists, Research Project Manager and multiple SRAs.
Our partner successfully filed their first IND in the US and China in early 2022 and is on track to meet their ambitious goal of multiple clinical candidates per year.
Following the success of building their research team and advancement of their pipeline, we are now working together to build-out their technical operations team.
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