About Calliditas Therapeutics

Calliditas is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing novel treatments in orphan indications, with an initial focus on renal and hepatic diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Calliditas’ lead product, developed under the name Nefecon, has received full approval by the FDA under the trade name TARPEYO® and by the European Commission under the trade name KINPEYGO®. TARPEYO/KINPEYGO® is the first treatment approved for IgA nephropathy by the FDA and EMA, respectively.

Calliditas also has a pipeline to address a variety of diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Alport Syndrome and solid tumors (SCCHN).

In 2024, Calliditas Therapeutics was acquired by Asahi Kasei.

Position summary

The Medical Director, Nephrology, is a core member of the Medical Affairs department and plays a critical role in shaping and executing the strategic medical vision for Calliditas Therapeutic’s growing nephrology portfolio. The incumbent co-leads the development, and implementation of, certain components of the nephrology disease area strategic plans for the Medical Affairs department, in support of Medical Affairs, Research and Development, and corporate objectives.  The incumbent works cross-functionally in a dynamic, matrixed environment and engages externally with key opinion leaders (KOLs), patient advocates, professional societies, and healthcare decision-makers to strengthen Calliditas Therapeutic’s scientific leadership, as well as brings deep expertise in nephrology medicine, strategic acumen, and a proven ability to lead in a high-growth, fast-paced setting.

Key tasks and responsibilities 

• Co-lead the development of certain components of the annual medical strategic plan together with Medical Affairs leadership team and in alignment with Research and Development and Corporate objectives.

• Contributes to the medical evidence generation strategy, including company-led, real-world evidence (RWE), investigator-sponsored studies (IIS), and collaborative research efforts. Provide medical input into clinical development plans, target product profiles, and lifecycle management strategies across pipeline and marketed products.

• Maintain deep scientific and medical knowledge of glomerular disease and IgAN disease state topics, and awareness of current patient care challenges and up to date treatment guidelines and recommendations that impact clinical decision making.

• Builds and maintains trusted partnerships with key opinion leaders, academic experts, healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and payer decision-makers to inform strategy, guide insight generation, and elevate Calliditas Therapeutic’s leadership in nephrology.

• Serves as an internal medical advisor to cross functional colleagues and as a nephrology medical point of contact for key cross-functional teams and committees, such as providing medical input into clinical development plans, target product profiles, and lifecycle management strategies across pipeline and marketed products.

• Serves to support as medical contributor to business development, corporate venture capital, and open innovation efforts, including scientific due diligence, asset evaluation, and integration of medical insights into opportunity assessments, as needed.

• Contributes to publication strategy development in partnership with cross-functional colleagues. Ensures timely execution of data dissemination plans that meet scientific, regulatory, and organizational needs.

• Collaborates with Medical Communications to ensure consistent and high-quality scientific communications across congresses, symposia, digital channels, and educational initiatives.

• Contributes to content review committee medical accuracy and scientific review of medical, promotional, and/or non-promotional materials, as needed.

• Supports pipeline planning and early-phase development efforts, providing medical input on target product profiles, data interpretation, and clinical differentiation.

• Leads the conduct of advisory boards and contributes to diverse insight gathering activities.

• Contributes to the medical grant program, including establishing key objectives and participating in review.

• Partners with HEOR and Market Access to support value-based evidence generation and to provide direct medical payer engagement, as appropriate.

• Collaborates closely with the Field Medical teams to ensure strategic alignment, integration of insights into strategic planning, and to support continuous training and relevant content development.

• Participates in national and regional conferences, meetings, consortia, and other scientific forums, as appropriate, to support medical affairs strategic objectives.

• Provides coaching and leadership to junior team members and direct reports (if any), fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous development.

• Contributes to the development of SOPs, best practices, and functional standards to ensure medical activities are executed efficiently, ethically, and compliantly. Supports audit readiness and quality improvement initiatives.

• Actively monitors the changing healthcare landscape to identify emerging global scientific, clinical and health policy trends.

• Displays flexibility with work schedules when collaborating with stakeholders in different time zones, especially with colleagues in Europe if working from the West Coast of the USA.

Education and experience requirements

• MD or DO nephrologist preferred; other terminal degrees may be considered.

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, or a combination of 5+ years of strong clinical experience with demonstrated industry collaboration.

• If not a nephrologist, then experience in the nephrology biopharmaceutical therapeutic area is required.

• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and work cross-functionally in a matrixed environment.

• Demonstrated ability, or potential, to excel in smaller entrepreneurial organizations a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret study findings and communicate appropriately.

• Able to prioritize and work in a fast-paced and changing environment.

• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.

• Innovative thinker, strategic leader, valued collaborator, and hands-on tactical performer with a successful track record and a strong drive to succeed.

• A strong sense of ethics, compliance, and integrity.

• Ability to travel up to 40% including international and weekend travel.

Reasons to join the Calliditas Team

• Be a part of a global leader in IgA-Nephropathy and a rapidly growing commercial-stage pharmaceutical company within specialty products with strong growth ambitions and a strong pipeline

• Fast paced small company environment

• A unique corporate culture

• Dedicated, experienced and highly skilled colleagues

• Participate on bonus and benefit programs

Welcome to join the Calliditas Team!

Calliditas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy or any other legally protected status. For a copy of the Affirmative Action Plan and EEO Statement, contact hr@calliditas.com.

Calliditas is an E-Verify employer.