Ignota Labs Director of Business Development Interview Questions

Skip to content Skip to footer

Notifications

Ignota Labs

Interviews

Director of Business Development Interview

13 Aug 2025

Anonymous interview candidate

No offer

Negative experience

Other Director of Business Development interview reviews for Ignota Labs

Director of Business Development Interview

12 Jul 2025

Anonymous interview candidate

No offer

Neutral experience

Average interview

Application

I applied online. I interviewed at Ignota Labs

Interview

I interviewed for the Director of Business Development role at Ignota Labs and made it through to the final stage, which included a conversation with the CEO and the (then) acting Director of BD/ current BD Director. The process was fine. However, shortly after the process ended, it was announced publicly that the same person who had interviewed me—already at the company in the said Director BD role was being promoted to "Director of BD". His LinkedIn showed he'd been at the company for over a year, and the “announcement” came just months after final interviews concluded. While there's nothing inherently wrong with internal promotions (and I fully support companies developing their own talent), it left the impression that the external hiring process may have been more of a formality or backup plan rather than a truly open search. That was disappointing, particularly given the time investment (video assessment and follow up interview) and level of preparation required for a senior role. box-ticking exercise??

Interview questions [1]

Question 1

What are potential difficulties within this role etc

Answer question

Ignota Labs interviews Ignota Labs Director of Business Development interviews Ignota Labs interview

Interview

Unusual and disappointing process. First round was a one-way recorded video interview: five questions revealed only once the interview began, with just 2–3 minutes to think and another 2–3 minutes to record each answer. The second round was the first time I actually spoke to a person. The third round was an in-person interview requiring a week’s worth of work to research and prepare a detailed business case (about an opportunity area they were keen to go into as it turned out later). On top of that, they asked for a “white paper” outlining my methodology and reasoning. The in-person interview felt rushed, and I had no real opportunity to ask questions. Besides the founding team the (then) acting BD Manager/Director was also present — and he ultimately got the Director role. In hindsight, the way the process was handled and the fact that individual was already part of the interview process from the second stage onwards, it appeared more like a “fake” interview designed to extract insights from experienced candidates to boost their internal knowledge - than a real search for the best candidate for the job. Another reviewer reported a similar experience. Don’t put candidates through that.

Interview questions [2]

Question 1

One-way video interview: Please describe how you would analyse a potential in-licensing opportunity presented to Ignota Labs. We often deal with incomplete and inadequate information, but still need to make decisions. Given this, how would you present your analysis to decision makers? Please give an example of where you have done this previously if possible. Please set out how you would set up and run a fundraising campaign for a single asset biotech company. How do you think about building and maintaining a network? Please include detail on your own networks in biotech. (Companies and / or investors) What do you think the key challenges for Ignota Labs will be over the next 12-24 months?

Answer question

Question 2

Business Case Brief: Diabetic Nephropathy Opportunity Assessment Objective: You are evaluating the commercial and strategic opportunity to develop a novel therapeutic asset for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN). You do not have to propose a specific drug, but your role is to assess the market, competitive landscape, and development considerations and recommend whether this is an attractive area for investment or internal R&D focus. Your Task: Prepare a concise and compelling presentation that outlines your perspective on the opportunity to develop a new therapeutic in diabetic nephropathy. You will present this in person to a panel including the CEO, CSO, and Business Development Team. Your communication will need to satisfy a highly scientific audience (CSO) while also being accessible to generalist commercial leaders (CEO and Business Development Team) — i.e., assume reasonable scientific literacy but not deep domain expertise. Clear structuring and simplification of technical material will be valued. You do not need to submit slides in advance. Please arrive with them on a device that can display them (e.g., laptop or tablet). We will ask you to share the slides and a short methodology summary after the interview. The presentation should take no more than 20 minutes. You will then be asked questions about your research. Scope & Suggested Structure 1. Unmet Need & Market Overview • How large is the diabetic nephropathy population globally and how is it changing? • What is the disease burden and economic impact? • What are the major clinical gaps in care? • How attractive is the commercial opportunity? 2. Scientific and Competitive Landscape • What therapeutic mechanisms of action (MoAs) are currently being used or investigated for DN? • What are the strengths and limitations of these MoAs? • Where are the white spaces or areas of saturation in the competitive landscape? • ⚠️ You must conduct your own analysis and classification of competitors — do not rely on existing summaries. Use your judgment to group and interpret the landscape meaningfully. 3. Development Considerations • What are the major challenges or risks in developing a new drug for DN? • Clinical endpoints? • Trial design? • Regulatory precedent? • Recruitment/feasibility? • What kinds of compounds or modalities are best suited to these constraints? 4. Strategic Recommendation • Should the company pursue development in DN? • If yes: • - What kind of mechanism or product profile would you prioritise? • - What positioning or partnering strategy would you recommend? • If no: • - What are the main blockers and where might investment be better directed? What to Bring • A clear and professional presentation — no specific format or slide limit required • Your slides should be ready to present on your own device (e.g., laptop or tablet) • Be prepared to discuss the thinking behind your conclusions and answer questions Guidance on Resources • You are encouraged to use any tools you have access to, including AI/generative tools • However, you must validate the information you use — e.g., check scientific publications, company reports, trial registries • After the interview, we will ask you to: - Share your slides - Submit a short written narrative (1–2 paragraphs) outlining: • The tools and resources you used • How you ensured the accuracy and reliability of the information We will not judge you for using generative AI — but we are interested in your process, and how you gained conviction about what to include. Time Expectation • We expect you to spend 4–6 hours on this exercise • You are welcome to take more time if you wish

Answer question

Ignota Labs

Director of Business Development Interview

Other Director of Business Development interview reviews for Ignota Labs

Director of Business Development Interview

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

Director of Business Development Interview

Other Director of Business Development interview reviews for Ignota Labs

Director of Business Development Interview