Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Senior Medical Director

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Remote

Location: Remote • 🇮🇹 Italy

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Job Level

Senior

About the role

  • Develop and own the Italian medical strategy for Rett syndrome from pre-launch through launch and post-launch, including budget responsibilities.
  • Align European scientific vision and strategy into practical, locally relevant medical plans aligned with Italian clinical practice and patient pathways.
  • Act as the single-country medical authority for Rett syndrome, representing the company externally and internally, together with the country medical affairs team.
  • Design and execute disease-education and unmet-need initiatives ahead of national product approval aligned with launch readiness plan
  • Lead medical launch readiness, including scientific narratives, medical materials, and internal training, aligned with cross functional launch readiness plan in collaboration EU Regional medical team and local cross functional team
  • Partner closely with Commercial, Market Access, Compliance, and Regulatory colleagues to ensure a cohesive, compliant launch.
  • Further develop Italy-wide KOL networks and expert centres, and multidisciplinary Rett syndrome care teams. aligned with cross functional engagement plan
  • Lead high-impact scientific exchange, at medical conferences, advisory boards, and expert meetings, often acting as the primary scientific presenter.
  • Support congress planning, abstracts, and publications relevant to Rett syndrome.
  • Increase established trusted, long-term partnerships with Italian Rett syndrome patient and caregiver organizations.
  • Integrate the patient and caregiver perspective into medical strategy, education, and evidence generation.
  • Collaborate ethically with PAGs on disease awareness, diagnostic journeys, and unmet needs, in line with Italian and EU compliance standards.
  • Contribute to the design and execution of real-world evidence, registries, and post-marketing studies in Italy, including Investigator Initiated Studies (IISs).
  • Support publication strategy and scientific communication activities.
  • Help establish medical governance, SOPs, and compliant ways of working in Italy, appropriate for a growing biotech organization.
  • Act as a key medical thought partner to GM and cross functional team, and senior leadership on scientific, clinical, and patient-centric decisions related to Italy.
  • Support build-out of the Italian medical function, including future hiring, vendor selection, and process development, as needed.
  • Be an active member of local leadership team

Requirements

  • MD, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree in life sciences.
  • Background in neurology, paediatric neurology, neurodevelopmental disorders, or rare diseases strongly preferred.
  • 8–10+ years in Medical Affairs, Patient Advocacy, or related roles within biotech or (smaller) pharmaceutical companies.
  • Experience in pre-launch and launch medical activities, ideally in a first-in-class or early-stage product environment, is a strong plus.
  • Strong experience in rare diseases and/or neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, entrepreneurially, and cross-functionally in a lean organization.
  • Deep understanding of the Italian healthcare system, reference centres, and national rare disease networks.
Benefits
  • Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer-paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
  • 401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match 1:1 up to 5%
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2-year purchase price lock-in
  • 15+ vacation days
  • 13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
  • 10 days of paid sick time
  • Paid parental leave benefit
  • Tuition assistance

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard skills
medical strategy developmentdisease education initiativesreal-world evidence designpost-marketing studiesscientific communicationmedical governanceSOP developmentclinical practice alignmentbudget managementcross-functional collaboration
Soft skills
leadershipindependent workentrepreneurial mindsetcross-functional teamworkscientific presentationrelationship buildingstrategic thinkingcommunicationcollaborationproblem-solving
Certifications
MDPharmDPhD