Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARWR) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.
Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI and San Diego, CA. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.
The Position
Let’s do something amazing together! The Director, Market Access, Reimbursement will play a critical role as we prepare for the commercial launch of Arrowhead’s leading investigational cardiometabolic medicine – Plozasiran (siRNA targeting APOC3). This product has demonstrated compelling clinical data to date and is in late-stage development for the treatment of various grievous conditions, including Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS) and Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG). Over time, this role could expand to cover additional indications and products in the Arrowhead cardiometabolic portfolio.
The Director will develop and execute innovative business strategies to secure optimal product access, reimbursement, and patient services, ensuring Plozarsiran’s success from pre-launch through commercialization. A core aspect of this role is fostering productive relationships with external healthcare decision makers while supporting healthcare providers (HCPs) with field-based access services, helping to accelerate patient access and time to treatment.
This is a field-based role that requires periodic travel to Arrowhead's Corporate Headquarters in Pasadena, CA, as business needs dictate.
Responsibilities
Market Access/Payer Engagement Develop and manage relationships with GPOs, PBMs, Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid plan stakeholders. Establish partnerships with specialty pharmacy, distributors, and healthcare systems as necessary to support broad product availability. Communicate product clinical and economic value to payers, formulary committees, and key decision-makers. Create and maintain comprehensive account plans outlining pre-launch, launch, and post-launch strategies. Lead contract negotiations, evaluate performance metrics, and ensure organizational alignment. Monitor sales implications for each payer negotiation and take action to establish optimal access in the right direction as necessary. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Medical Affairs, Commercial Analytics, Finance, and Compliance, to address access challenges. Provide market intelligence updates on payer trends, coverage determinations, and healthcare policy changes. Present payer policy insights at internal business reviews, national conferences, and sales meetings to align strategic priorities. Ensure full compliance with US healthcare regulations, legal standards, and corporate policies. Reimbursement Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing, compliant Field Reimbursement Team providing case-specific support for prior authorizations, appeals, and reimbursement education. Act as an expert on payer coverage policies, claims processes, and reimbursement protocols. Identify emerging payer-related issues and collaborate with leadership to address them. Collaborate with Specialty Pharmacy and HUB teams to ensure seamless product access. Deliver targeted training on payer-specific requirements, claims documentation, appeals processes, and financial assistance programs. Develop and maintain reimbursement resources for internal and external stakeholders. Patient Services Assist in the development of a best-in-class patient assistance program to serve HCPs and patients. Contribute to building resources to deliver key patient access services and educational support to HCPs and their staff. Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Specialty Pharmacy, and Commercial Analytics teams to optimize patient access. Maintain open communication with leadership on access challenges, program performance, and specialty pharmacy updates. Support the implementation of patient assistance programs, copay support, etc.Requirements:
5+ years of previous payer, market access, or healthcare reimbursement experience, including pharmacy and medical benefit products. Strong understanding of commercial, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid managed care processes. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with trade negotiators, payer medical and pharmacy leaders. Previous experience or established relationships at multiple GPOs, PBMs and plans is preferred. Deep understanding of specialty pharmacy required and established relationships highly desired. Previous experience launching rare disease/cardiometabolic medicines highly desired. Expertise in business planning, tactical execution, and results delivery. Experience managing national and local contracting initiatives in managed care organizations. Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills. Ability to work independently while fostering a collaborative team environment. Experience managing vendor relationships, projects, and budgets. Familiarity with healthcare laws, industry regulations, and compliance standards. Professional representation of Arrowhead in external engagements. Willingness to travel up to 50%.Preferred:
National Account experience Master’s / Advanced Degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD) California pay range $200,000—$240,000 USDArrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.
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