The Trebla Times - January 2026

If December taught us anything, it’s that the 2026 hiring cycle has already started. Teams that waited for a clean January reset quickly found themselves competing for the same senior regulatory and clinical leaders as everyone else. The good news? There’s still plenty of talent to go around. The better news? We know most of them. 

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TRENDS:

Here’s what we’re seeing in the biotech hiring landscape right now

Pipelines in Motion

M&A activity in biotech has slowed, but it isn’t frozen (unlike the rest of us!). Different from past years of headline-grabbing mega-acquisitions, January’s M&A landscape is defined more by smaller, “surer”, strategic moves. This month’s deals include:

GSK’S ACQUISITION OF RAPT THERAPEUTICS (~2.2B)

Deepens immunology and allergy capabilities with a Phase 2b anti-IgE asset that could compete in prophylactic allergy space.

ELI LILLY'S PURCHASE OF VENTYX BIOSCIENCES (~1.2B)

Adds clinical-stage inflammation and immunology programs that dovetail with Lilly’s broader immunology ambitions.

Hiring Hotspots:

M&A activity mirrors JPM outcomes this year. The loudest theme coming out of the conference wasn’t new science; it was execution. Companies are narrowing their focus, prioritizing assets closest to value creation, and aligning talent accordingly.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HIRING:

Fewer early discovery rolesà. Greater available R&D talent on the market.More demand for leaders who’ve taken programs from development through commercialization. Heavy emphasis on de-risking timelines (Regulatory, Safety Pharmacovigilance, CMC)àBegin the hiring process early for these functional areas. Competition is high!

Trimming Their Trials

January marks the start of a new fiscal year, but not a new market— 9 biotech companies announced layoffs this month. Here’s the list we thought you’d find most useful:

TESSERA THERAPEUTICS (SOMERVILLE)

Plans to release 90 employees starting March 8.

VENDANTA BIOSCIENCES (CAMBRIDGE)

Reduced roughly half the workforce to focus resources on its Phase III program.

NXERA PHARMA

Reducing ~15% to streamline portfolio and leadership.

SONOMA BIOTHERAPEUTICS (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO)

Confirmed layoffs in attempt to extend its cash runway and concentrate on its Phase I asset.

TAKEDA (USA)

Disclosed a layoff impacting around 243 field-based employees, primarily neuroscience commercial roles.

DIVING DEEPER INTO JANUARY

 Offers for the month:

• ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, HEAD OF IN VIVIO ANTIBODY DISCOVERY

  • Base Salary: $180,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 20% 

  • Equity: 20,000 stock options

  • Sign on: $15,000 

  • Location: Boulder, CO 

• SCIENTIST I, ANTIBODY DISCOVERY

  • Base Salary: $125,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 10% 

  • Equity: 50,000 stock options 

  • Location: San Diego, CA 

• SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, ASSAY DEVELOPMENT

  • Base Salary: $110,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 10% 

  • Equity: 40,000 stock options 

  • Location: San Diego, CA 

CROWNED CANDIDATES:

Since the market is craving "Execution Experts," we’ve selected two standout profiles this month:

Regulatory Pick (Candidate #7420)  

• Title: Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs 

• Global regulatory lead w/ extensive oncology experience (HemOnc) 

• Expertise: Deep experience in Hematology/Oncology across early-phase & late-phase autologous CAR T and T-cell products, currently working with antibody-drug conjugates.  

Clinical Pick (Candidate #10748)

• Title: Executive Director, Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance 

• MD, PhD 

• Expertise: Deep experience in rare diseases and neurology. Provided global strategic safety leadership and guidance for investigational and marketed compounds. 

ACTIVE SEARCHES

REGULATORY AFFAIRS 

• Senior Vice President/Vice President, Regulatory Affairs – Oncology (San Diego, CA) 

• Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs – Oncology (Seattle, WA) 

• Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs – Rare Disease (South San Francisco, CA) 

• Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs – Rare Disease (South San Francisco, CA) 

CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 

• Chief Medical Officer – Oncology (Remote West Coast) 

• Chief Medical Officer – Immunology/Inflammatory (Remote USA) 

• Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development – Neurology (South San Francisco, CA) 

• Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development – Surgery + Transplant (Remote USA) 

PHARMACOVIGILANCE & SAFETY 

• Vice President, PV & Safety – Rare Disease (Remote West Coast) 

• Executive Director, PV & Safety – Hematology/Oncology (Remote USA) 

R&D 

• Senior Research Scientist – Antibody Engineering (Boulder, CO) 

NEW TO OUR TRIBE

We welcomed two new clients into the Trebla Tribe this month: 

IMMUNOME

Clinical-stage oncology company focused on targeted cancer therapies, including next-gen ADCs, with multiple assets in development.

CELLPHIRE

A private clinical-stage biotech developing next-generation platelet-derived therapies to address critical unmet needs in hemostasis and acute bleeding. 

T R I B E

Here’s what the Trebla team’s been doing off the clock

Brandon and Kasee made the most of the freezing temperatures, carving out time for a little fun in the snow. Brandon braved the top of Mt. Keystone with a –13° windchill, while Atlanta even saw enough snow for the kids to enjoy. Meanwhile, Nat and Dakota briefly escaped the cold and headed to California for JPM. Great to see everyone!