Vice President, U.S. Market Access & Patient Services

Job Title:

Vice President, U.S. Market Access & Patient Services

Location:

San Diego, CA / Hybrid / Remote

Position type:

FLSA:

Full time

Exempt

Department:

Commercial

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Opportunity

The VP, U.S. Market Access and Patient Services is a senior leader accountable for optimizing all aspects of access to our products.  This position will be responsible for market access, patient services, trade and distribution functions within the U.S. commercial team.  They will report to the regional general manager and be a critical part of the U.S. commercial leadership team. This position will work cross-functionally across all of Avidity and will serve, or appoint members, to launch and commercialization teams.

What You Will Contribute

• Drive efficient patient access to our rare disease therapies by ensuring smooth product distribution, reimbursement, and adherence support through contracted channels
• Oversee and lead all aspects of U.S. Market Access team
  • Establish a U.S. pricing committee in partnership with commercial operations.  Recommend product pricing consistent with Avidity’s values and portfolio goals
  • Collaborate with marketing team to develop payer marketing messaging and materials aligned with our brand strategy
  • Develop compelling value propositions that demonstrate the clinical and economic benefits of our therapies
  • Collaborate with Medical Affairs and HEOR (Health Economics & Outcomes Research) to develop robust data packages that support payer decision-making
  • Partner with global market access to develop AMCP dossiers, budget impact models, and cost effectiveness models
  • Build, lead and develop a high-performing field access team responsible for working with commercial and government payers to optimize access for patients
  • Develop and implement strategies to ensure optimal access for patients at specialty clinics, infusion centers, and other relevant sites of care for our rare disease therapies.
  • Develop and deliver educational programs for healthcare providers at sites of care on appropriate patient identification, coding, and billing
• Develop and lead Avidity’s Patient Services team
  • Work with brand and digital marketing leadership to create a branded patient services program
  • Develop patient service strategies aligned with our brand and launch vision
  • Build customer-focused case management and field reimbursement teams
  • Build and support patient assistance programs
  • Oversee regular business reviews in pursuit of continuous improvement with our external partners
  • Partner with patient advocacy and build strong relationships with patient advocacy groups and other key stakeholders in the rare disease community
• Trade & Distribution
  • Recommend, select and manage key partners including 3PL, distributors, specialty pharmacy and hub services
  • Work with IT and commercial operations to design, manage and optimize an internal data management function
  • Partner with legal to negotiate all third party contracts
• Build and maintain a close collaborative relationship with key business partners including but not limited to global market access, CMC, government affairs and medical affairs
• Work with commercial operations to build government pricing programs and related operational capabilities
• Ensure compliance with all local and national regulations including state licensures and US healthcare laws
• Stay abreast of evolving market access and patient services trends and regulations, and develop strategies to identify opportunities for Avidity

What We Seek

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree; MBA or advanced degree helpful
• 15+ years of commercial and launch experience within multiple functions.  10+ years of direct experience with payers, trade/distribution, patient services and specifically contract negotiations
• Experience building patient services team(s) from the ground up highly desired
• Detailed knowledge of the services landscape across hubs, specialty pharmacies and distributors and other potential partners
• Experience partnering with other functions in pursuit of public policy
• Proven long-term relationships with 3rd party payers (commercial / government payers), distribution and trade (3PL, wholesale, specialty pharmacy), physician networks, and healthcare systems
• Experience across multiple product and launches with payer contracting terms across various segments; experience with IV drugs, including Medicare Part B
• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively present ideas, get buy-in and drive consensus within the commercial organization and across project teams.
• Market access and management experience at a senior level
• Strength in managing people leaders
• Ability to travel to our San Diego home office and/or other locations 50% of the time

• The base salary range for this role is $300,000-350,000. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits which includes the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

Avidity Biosciences

10578 Science Center Dr. Suite 125

San Diego, CA

92121

O: 858-401-7900

F: 858-401-7901