In Vivo Pharmacologist

The Company

Ailux is an innovative biotechnology company harnessing AI to accelerate breakthrough biologic therapies in difficult immune-mediated diseases and improve the lives of patients with significant unmet medical need. Built on intelligent design and guided by people who care about transforming healthcare, our technology is redefining what is possible in biologics development, from how we select targets to how we engineer the molecules.Ailux’s vision is to light the path to new cures and fundamentally change our approach to science and drug development to redefine current treatment paradigms. We look to continue unlocking the potential of disease biology, integrate AI-enabled biologics development, and deliver effective clinical execution.Backed by an experienced leadership team, leading scientific advisors, a highly multidisciplinary organization, and strategic partnerships in biopharma, Ailux is approaching a key inflection point as its first wave of therapeutic programs advance toward clinical development. This is an opportunity to play a vital role in leading programs from pre-clinical development into the clinic and through clinical proof-of-concept, shaping the pipeline and development culture of a rapidly growing biotechnology company.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic In Vivo Pharmacologist. We are looking for an experienced, highly skilled and enthusiastic In vivo Pharmacologist to join our drug discovery Ailux teams based in China and UK/Europe to drive the In Vivo needs of the projects. Reporting to the Head of In Vivo models, the role will drive translational and quantitative pharmacology strategies across Ailux’s respiratory and immunology pipeline, enabling rapid, data-driven progression from discovery through early clinical development for novel biologic therapeutics. Working at the interface of computational design, translational biology and preclinical development, you will ensure in vivo considerations are embedded early and translated into clear programme recommendations from hit identification through clinical entry. The role offers the opportunity to help shape translational strategy and quantitative decision-making across a next-generation respiratory and immunology pipeline spanning biologics, multi-specifics and peptide therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

In Vivo Pharmacology

• Drive Ailux’s In Vivo Pharmacology function, help defining scientific strategy, operating model, capabilities and external collaborations.
• Be part of a high-performing team of in vivo pharmacologists and translational scientists across China and UK/Europe.
• Help define portfolio-level in vivo strategies to support target validation, candidate selection, mechanism of action and clinical translation.
• Provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to guide programme progression, investment decisions and risk management.

Scientific Excellence and Translational Pharmacology

• Help define and implement in vivo pharmacology strategies supporting target identification, validation, lead optimisation and clinical candidate selection.
• Aid in the design and interpret mechanistic and disease-relevant in vivo studies to establish efficacy, pharmacology and therapeutic rationale.
• Develop innovative approaches to quantitative pharmacology, integrating PK/PD relationships, biomarkers and translational endpoints.
• Ensure appropriate selection, validation and execution of animal models internally and through external partnerships.
• Apply deep scientific judgement to critically evaluate model relevance, limitations and translational predictability.

Cross-Functional Programme Leadership

• Partner closely with biology, DMPK, safety, translational medicine, clinical pharmacology and regulatory teams to deliver integrated programme strategies.
• Help lead external collaborations with CROs and scientific partners, ensuring quality, timelines and scientific excellence.
• Give in vivo pharmacology input into IND/CTA packages, regulatory briefing documents and interactions.
• Support progression of programmes from preclinical development into first-in-human studies.

AI and Data-Driven Drug Discovery

• Collaborate with computational scientists to generate high-quality experimental datasets that enhance predictive models and improve decision-making.
• Ensure computational outputs are biologically meaningful, experimentally validated and relevant to translational objectives.
• Drive integration of AI-enabled approaches into experimental design and pharmacology workflows.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

• PhD or equivalent degree in Pharmacology, Immunology, Biology or a related discipline, with significant postdoctoral and pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Extensive experience in respiratory and/or immunology drug discovery, with a strong understanding of inflammatory disease biology.
• Proven track record of designing and interpreting in vivo pharmacology studies supporting progression of novel therapeutics, ideally biologics and/or complex modalities.
• Experience developing medicines from discovery through clinical candidate selection and early clinical development.
• Demonstrated ability to critically assess disease models, translational biomarkers and mechanisms of action.
• Experience leading, developing and inspiring scientific teams in a matrixed environment.
• An understanding of clinical landscapes, competitive intelligence and emerging therapeutic approaches in respiratory and immunology.
• Established external scientific network and experience managing collaborations with academic groups and CRO partners.
• Interest in AI-driven drug discovery and data-centric approaches to medicine development.