Director, Market Access Italy

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.

As a key leader in the Market Access and Pricing function, the Head of Market Access for Italy will drive the strategy, planning, and execution of market access initiatives to support the successful launch of aficamten in 2027. Reporting to the General Manager for the territory with a dotted line to the Head of Market Access Europe, this role will focus on achieving optimal pricing and reimbursement outcomes while ensuring patients have timely access to aficamten. This role demands strong cross-functional collaboration with medical affairs, regulatory and commercial.

As the Head of Market Access for Italy, you will lead and execute strategies that ensure optimal market access, pricing, and reimbursement to support the successful launch of aficamten across the Country. You will also be responsible for Regional Access and Tender management other than key hospital pharmacist management. Additionally, you will develop and implement comprehensive external engagement initiatives to build trust with key stakeholders, including payers, policymakers, and health authorities, while fostering a favorable policy environment.

This position requires strategic vision, excellent cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence external decision-making to secure timely and equitable patient access to innovative therapies.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Develop and implement national and regional market access strategies tailored to the Italian healthcare systems, ensuring alignment with the European Market Access Plan.

• Lead the development of value propositions and evidence packages to support favorable Health Technology Assessment (HTA) outcomes and reimbursement decisions with bodies such as AIFA and Italian MoH

• Pricing responsibilities will include pricing assumptions and scenarios for business review and development for the Regional & Global Pricing committee when needed

• Contribute to define the Market Access Strategy for the upcoming products in collaboration with the Global/EU Market Access Team by providing the local prospective

• Oversee the planning and execution of pre-launch and launch market access activities. Drive successful launch readiness activities, including reimbursement and pricing negotiations with key stakeholders.

• Develop and implement regional and hospital market access strategies tailored to each healthcare system in every region in Italy.

• Monitor and Manage the Tenders ensuring timely aficamten market access with the support of a Tender Manager

• Monitor and adapt strategies based on changing healthcare systems and regulatory landscapes and implement to minimize price reductions or price reference range

Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish and nurture relationships with key external stakeholders, including payers, policymakers, HTA bodies, and other decision-makers across Italy.

• Represent the company at national and regional payer advisory boards, industry associations and working groups.

• Act as a company spokesperson during strategic engagements with payers and policymakers, ensuring alignment of market access narratives across all geographies.

External Engagement & Government Affairs

• Develop and implement external engagement strategies to address policy and regulatory challenges specific to Italy.

• Actively monitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting the pharmaceutical industry, providing recommendations to adapt the company’s strategies.

• Engage with government bodies, trade associations, and patient advocacy groups to advocate for innovation-friendly policies and equitable access to healthcare.

• Enhance the company’s reputation by positioning it as a trusted partner within the healthcare ecosystem in both Italy.

Evidence Generation and Communication:

• Collaborate with HEOR to design and execute real-world evidence and economic models addressing national and regional payer requirements.

• Ensure clinical and economic evidence is effectively communicated through local adaptations of global dossiers and presentations to HTA and payer audiences.

• Review and provide input into country-specific reimbursement submissions and supporting materials.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with Medical Affairs, HEOR, and Commercial teams to align access strategies and messaging local, EU and global levels.

• Partner with the General Manager Italy to define and execute country-specific goals and strategies.

• Support internal training and knowledge sharing on market access topics for local teams.

Operational Oversight:

• Manage local market access budgets and allocate resources effectively to meet strategic priorities.

• Monitor and report on the regulatory, reimbursement, and competitive landscape to inform strategic decision-making.

• Ensure compliance with all local and global regulatory and ethical guidelines in all market access activities.

• Ensure pipeline products are appropriately included in country level horizon scanning processes.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in health economics, public health, life sciences, or a related field; MBA or equivalent preferred. Fluency in English and Italian is required.

• A minimum of 7+ years of experience in market access, pricing, or health economics roles within the pharmaceutical industry and regional or national payers, with significant experience in the Italian market.

• Demonstrated expertise in navigating complex healthcare systems, including HTA processes and payer negotiations in Italy.

• Experience in public affairs and government relations in Italy

• Proven ability to manage external stakeholder networks.

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Pay Range:

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.  

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do – all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.

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Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer