VP Oligonucleotide Chemistry

VP, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Gondola Bio is a clinical‑stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapeutics for genetic diseases. Gondola Bio is an independent sister company to Bridge Bio, originally carved out in 2024 after securing $300 million in private financing from external investors. Gondola Bio aims to leverage cutting‑edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

You are an accomplished leader in oligonucleotide chemistry and medicinal design, with a deep understanding of oligonucleotide synthesis, modification, conjugation, and structure–activity relationships. You have a proven record of advancing oligonucleotide candidates (antisense, siRNA, and other modalities) from design through optimization, scale‑up, and IND‑enabling studies.

You thrive in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment and enjoy close collaboration across disciplines, particularly with biology, CMC, and delivery sciences. You bring scientific rigor, creative problem‑solving, and a passion for applying chemistry to address unmet medical needs.

• Define and lead the chemical design strategy for oligonucleotide therapeutics for Gondola Bio’s programs, collaborating closely with the Head of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics.
• Drive selection, design, and optimization of oligonucleotide chemistries (backbone, sugar, and base modifications) to achieve potency, stability, delivery, and safety goals.
• Advise on sequence selection and modification patterns to improve nuclease resistance, pharmacokinetics, and tissue specificity.
• Collaborate with CMC to ensure efficient discovery to development transitions related to synthetic route design, process chemistry, and scale‑up.
• Evaluate and implement emerging oligo modalities, including conjugates (e.g., GalNAc, peptides, antibodies, lipids), self‑delivering chemistries, and stereopure or gapmer designs.
• Partner with CMC, delivery, and biology teams to integrate chemistry strategy with pharmacology, biodistribution, and translational insights.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage CRO/CDMO partnerships for synthesis of discovery stage oligos & analytical characterization.
• Provide focused chemistry leadership on oligonucleotide programs, from early concept through development candidate nomination and IND submission.
• Maintain deep awareness of the state of the art in oligonucleotide chemistry and apply emerging innovations to Gondola Bio programs.
• Embrace and role‑model Gondola Bio’s values of scientific rigor, collaboration, and patient focus.

• Ph.D. in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or chemical biology, or equivalent advanced degree.
• 12+ years of experience in oligonucleotide medicinal chemistry, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of advancing oligonucleotide programs from discovery to IND‑enabling stages.
• Expertise in chemical modifications (e.g., PS linkages, 2ʹ modifications, PN linkages, stereopure designs).
• Demonstrated success in collaborating with biology and translational teams to link chemical design with therapeutic effect.
• Familiarity with CMC scale‑up, analytical characterization, and regulatory documentation related to oligonucleotide manufacturing.
• Experience managing CROs/CDMOs and building chemistry capabilities in a lean, biotech environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to clearly articulate chemistry strategy to cross‑functional teams and leadership.

• Experience across antisense, siRNA, and emerging RNA‑based modalities.
• Hands‑on expertise with conjugation chemistries (GalNAc, peptides, antibodies, lipids).
• Experience developing solid‑phase synthesis processes for oligonucleotides.
• Background in structure–activity relationships (SAR) for oligo therapeutics.
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations for oligonucleotide CMC and analytical documentation.

• Patient Champions – put patients first and uphold strict ethical standards.
• Entrepreneurial Operators – drive toward…