Director of In Vivo Pharmacology

Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating, and one day curing, life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, we are developing advanced cell therapies across a diverse array of technology platforms, including autologous and allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, T-cell receptor (TCR-T), and natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy. From our three R&D sites around the world, we apply these innovative technologies to pursue the discovery of safe, efficacious and cutting-edge therapeutics for patients worldwide.

Legend Biotech entered into a global collaboration agreement with Janssen, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, to jointly develop and commercialize ciltacabtagene autolecuel (cilta-cel). Our strategic partnership is designed to combine the strengths and expertise of both companies to advance the promise of an immunotherapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Legend Biotech is seeking Director of In Vivo Pharmacology as part of the Research & Early Development team based in Philadelphia, PA. 

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Director of In Vivo Pharmacology to lead and expand our in vivo research capabilities in support of our cell and gene therapy pipeline. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and overseeing preclinical pharmacology studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of engineered cell or gene therapies in relevant in vivo models. This leadership role will be instrumental in guiding the transition of novel CAR-T candidates from discovery through IND-enabling studies and into early clinical development.

Key Responsibilities  

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of in vivo pharmacology studies supporting cell or gene therapy development programs.
• Design, develop, and validate in vivo models (e.g., xenograft, syngeneic, orthotopic) to evaluate CAR-T efficacy, persistence, trafficking, and toxicity.
• Oversee in vivo study execution in-house and at CROs, ensuring scientific rigor, quality, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Work cross-functionally with discovery, translational biology, immunology, and clinical teams to integrate pharmacodynamic, biomarker, and mechanism-of-action data.
• Interpret and present data to internal stakeholders, executive leadership, and external collaborators or partners.
• Author key sections of regulatory documents (e.g., INDs, Investigator’s Brochures, study reports).
• Manage and mentor a team of scientists and research associates.
• Evaluate and implement emerging in vivo technologies and platforms to improve study throughput and translational relevance.
• The candidate has authority and should have the ability to make decisions on preclinical in vivo pharmacology strategies

Requirements

• PhD, DVM in Pharmacology, Immunology, or related field, with 8+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Deep expertise in in vivo models of cancer and/or immunotherapy; experience with CAR-T, TCR, or other cell or gene therapies highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of tumor immunology, immune cell trafficking, cytokine biology, and T cell kinetics.
• Proven track record of leading IND-enabling pharmacology studies.
• Hands-on experience with mouse handling, tumor implantation, IV/SC dosing, and tissue processing is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and external CRO collaborations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and project management skills.

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Please note: These benefits are offered exclusively to permanent full-time employees. Contractors are not eligible for benefits through Legend Biotech.

EEO Statement

It is the policy of Legend Biotech to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances.

Employment is at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice by the employee or the company.