June 2026

June was another blockbuster month for biotech, with major IPOs, accelerated regulatory milestones, and significant clinical progress, particularly across the GLP-1 and AI-enabled drug discovery. In this edition, we're sharing the hiring trends we've observed this quarter, highlighting notable M&A activity, and breaking down four real-world executive regulatory compensation packages.

---

TRENDS

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

Trebla’s Take: Speed & Strategy:

As the hiring market continues to gain momentum, two trends have consistently separated companies that secure top talent from those that miss out.

1) Speed Wins:

Top candidates don't stay on the market for long. The companies that hire the best talent aren't necessarily the fastest. They're the most prepared. They know who needs to be involved, ensure every interview has a purpose, communicate a clear timeline, and move decisively when they find the right person.

2) Onsite Expectations Require Planning:

If your search requires candidates to relocate or be in the office several days a week, expect the search to take longer than a comparable remote role. Building realistic timelines from the outset leads to a smoother hiring process and better outcomes.

Pipelines on Fire:

There's no other way to say it: biotech M&A in 2026 is on a historic run. In just the first six months of the year, pharma companies have closed 33 acquisitions valued at $1 billion or more. If the pace holds, 2026 is on track to be the strongest year for dealmaking since the pre-COVID peak of 2019. Key deals we found the most compelling:.

Apogee Therapeutics: $10.9B all-cash deal, AbbVie's largest acquisition since its Allergan takeover in 2019.

ABBVIE

Apogee Therapeutics: $10.9B all-cash deal, AbbVie's largest acquisition since its Allergan takeover in 2019.

Nuvalent: $10.6B acquisition deepening GSK's oncology pipeline with Nuvalent's next-generation kinase inhibitors.

GSK

Nuvalent: $10.6B acquisition deepening GSK's oncology pipeline with Nuvalent's next-generation kinase inhibitors.

Trimming Their Trials

While the biotech market has shown a strong rebound this quarter, restructuring remains part of the landscape. June marked the highest month for layoffs we've seen in recent months, with 8 biotechs announcing workforce reductions. Here’s the list we thought would be the most helpful:

FULCRUM THERAPEUTICS

(Cambridge, MA): Reduced approximately 85% of its workforce as the company drops its lead sickle cell drug candidate.

Genentech (South San Francisco, CA): Another round of layoffs announced affecting the early development and R&D groups.

SANAGAMO THERAPEUTICS

(Richmond, CA): Announced the elimination of 51 positions as part of its bankruptcy process and restructuring efforts.

Genentech (South San Francisco, CA): Another round of layoffs announced affecting the early development and R&D groups.

NEUMORA THERAPEUTICS

(Watertown, MA): The company cuts 35% of its staff after a phase 3 failur

DIVING DEEPER INTO JUNE

Offers for the month:

• SENIOR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 

  • Base Salary: $400,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 27.5% 

  • Equity: 375,000 stock option units 

  • Location: Boston, MA 

  • Company Stage: Public 

• ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, REGULATORY AFFAIRS

  • Base Salary: $222,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 17.5% 

  • Equity: 8,000 stock option units

  • Location: San Francisco, CA

  • Company Stage: Public 

• SENIOR DIRECTOR, REGULATORY AFFAIRS

  • Base Salary: $290,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 25%

  • Equity: 30,000 stock option units

  • Location: Seattle, WA

  • Company Stage: Public 

• SENIOR DIRECTOR, REGULATORY AFFAIRS

  • Base Salary: $290,000 

  • Annual Bonus: 25% 

  • Equity: 60,000 RSUs 

  • Sign-on Bonus: $40,000 

  • Location: Bridgewater, NJ 

CROWNED CANDIDATES

Are you hiring? We have you covered!  

Regulatory Pick (Candidate #316)  

• Title: Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs  

• PhD, Genetic Molecular and Cellular Biology 

• Experience supporting 2 successful programs through BLA and MAA filings.  

• 15+ years leading regulatory strategy  

• Bulk of experience has been spent at small biotech’s  

Clinical Pick (Candidate #3248)

• Title: Vice President, Clinical Development  

• MD, PhD; Board-certified Rheumatologist 

• 17 years of Clinical Drug Development experience  

• Currently leading I&I Phase 3 and BLA filing 

• Bulk of experience has been spent at small biotech’s 

• Local to Boston, MA 

ACTIVE SEARCHES

REGULATORY AFFAIRS 

• Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs – Oncology (Boston, MA) 

• Executive Director, Regulatory Operations – Veeva RIM (Boston, MA) 

CLINICAL OPPERATIONS

• Vice President, Clinical Operations – Neurodegenerative (Remote West Coast) 

• Director, Clinical Trial Management – Rare Disease (San Francisco, CA) 

• Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management – Rare Disease (San Francisco, CA)   

CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT

• Chief Medical Officer – Neurodegenerative (Remote USA) 

• Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development – Neuromuscular (Boston, MA) 

• Medical Director, Clinical Development – Neurology (Boston, MA)  

PHARMACOVIGILANCE & SAFETY 

• Vice President, 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) 

T R I B E

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

Brandon checked off a major bucket-list accomplishment by completing his first trail race, the Leadville Heavy Half in Colorado. Will we see a full marathon in his future? And Natalia has officially made the move back to San Francisco and couldn't be happier! After nearly three years on the East Coast, splitting time between New Hampshire and Montreal, she's thrilled to be back in the Bay.