This month, the market kept building on the momentum we started seeing earlier this year. Layoffs stayed surprisingly quiet, and competition for talent continues to ramp up as companies move faster, and candidates gain leverage.
Trends
Here's what we're seeing in the biotech hiring landscape right now
Talent Tug of War:
For the last two years, companies relied heavily on "unwillingly available" talent: strong candidates entering the market through layoffs, restructures, and hiring freezes. That pool is shrinking quickly. Here are some ways to stay competitive:
Speed in Hiring
Top candidates are moving fast again. Slow interview loops and delayed decisions are costing companies talent.
Clear Growth Stories
Candidates want to understand where the company is headed, how funded the runway is, and what their role could become in 12 to 24 months.
Flexibility
Hybrid structures, relocation support, and thoughtful work-life balance policies remain major decision drivers.
Competitive Compensation Packages
Base salary matters, but candidates are paying closer attention to equity upside, retention incentives, and long-term stability.
Pipelines in Motion
Biotech M&A may not have been as off-the-charts as earlier this year, but these deal sizes are still turning heads.
Angelini Pharm → Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
$4.1B acquisition expanding Angelini's footprint into the U.S. rare disease and CNS markets.
Bayer → Perfuse Therapeutics
$2.45B acquisition focused on strengthening Bayer's ophthalmology pipeline.
UCB → Candid Therapeutics
$2.2B deal bolstering UCB's immunology pipeline with novel T-cell engager therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Trimming Their Trials
For the first time in a long time, layoffs didn't dominate biotech headlines. Most of the workforce reductions announced this month came from large pharma companies continuing broader restructuring and efficiency initiatives, rather than widespread cuts across the industry.
Novartis
Continuing its broader efficiency push with additional cuts.
Takeda
Takeda's new transformation initiative will simplify operations, centralize functions, and eliminate roughly 4,500 roles during fiscal 2026.
Diving Deeper into May
Offers for the month:
Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs
- Base Salary: $222,000
- Annual Bonus: 17.5%
- Equity: 8,000 stock option units
- Sign on: $25,000
- Location: South San Francisco, CA
- Company Stage: Public
Senior Director, Medical Writing
- Base Salary: $280,000
- Equity: 54,000 stock option units
- Sign-on: $50,000
- Location: Boston, MA
- Company Stage: Pre-IPO
Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs
- Base Salary: $320,000
- Bonus: 27.5%
- Equity: 29,000 RSUs
- Sign-on: $20,000
- Company Stage: Public
Crowned Candidates
Are you hiring? We have you covered!
Regulatory Pick · Candidate #11130
Director, Regulatory Affairs- Led two INDs and supported pre-BLA and BLA
- PhD, Pharmacology; 10 years within the biotech industry
- Technical expertise across cell therapy, autoimmune and oncology
- Local to the Bay Area
Clinical Pick · Candidate #11769
Executive Medical Director, Clinical Development- Expertise in Neurology / CNS and Neurodegenerative Diseases from FIH through NDA
- 7 years of Clinical Drug Development experience
- Local to Boston, MA
Active Searches
Open Roles
Regulatory Affairs
- Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs – Oncology (Boston, MA)
- Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs – Oncology (Remote West Coast)
- Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs – Rare Disease (South San Francisco, CA)
Clinical Operations
- Director, Clinical Trial Management – Ophthalmology (San Francisco, CA)
- Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management – Ophthalmology (San Francisco, CA)
Clinical Development
- Vice President, Clinical Development – Autoimmune (Remote USA)
- Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development – Neuromuscular (Boston, MA)
- Medical Director, Clinical Development – Neurology (Boston, MA)
Pharmacovigilance & Safety
- Senior Director, PV & Safety (MD) – Rare Disease (Boston, MA)
- Senior Director, PV & Safety (MD) – Autoimmune (Remote West Coast)
Quality Assurance
- Director, Quality Assurance GxP – CNS (Madison, WI)
New to Our Tribe
We welcomed a new client into the Trebla Tribe this month!
A Boston-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing targeted cancer therapies.
T R I B E
Here's what the Trebla team's been doing off the clock
Brandon spent the weekend dodging lightning on Mt. Whitney while Dakota tackled the Pemi Loop through rain, rock scrambles, and fading daylight in the White Mountains. Maybe next year these two will choose a more peaceful Memorial Day break.
Nat's final stop in CDMX was a visit to one of Mexico City's most iconic cultural landmarks — the breathtaking Biblioteca Vasconcelos. She's officially back stateside and gearing up for her next cross-country move back to San Francisco!
