A review of exec pay trends and data from newly public biopharmas.
Life Sciences Compensation and Leadership Consulting
We help organizations identify, develop, and reward high-performance leadership teams.
Motivating and Rewarding Innovation
Life science companies play a critical role today as global health crises increase, impacting the well-being of billions of people around the world. From bringing innovative medicines to market and developing new diagnostics, to delivering medical technology and devices to frontline workers and patients, our clients are driving innovation to improve and save lives.
Meet the Expert
Robert James
Managing Director | Los Angeles
Rob is a managing director with Pearl Meyer with almost 15 years of experience in executive compensation and finance. He serves as a trusted advisor to boards and senior management at public and private firms across North America.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Compensation and leadership strategies tailored to your organization and stage
We work with life science companies across the spectrum: Series B start-ups, recent IPOs, emerging growth, and mature organizations.
Biotechnology
We partner with boards and senior management at a range of biotechnology companies supporting their compensation, governance, and human capital strategies.
Pharmaceuticals
Our holistic approach to compensation design and talent management gives your organization a competitive advantage in a swiftly changing, highly regulated marketplace.
Medical Devices
Our in-depth industry expertise guides strategy-driven compensation and leadership programs specific to your company and market needs.
How We Partner With You
We help boards and senior leaders motivate and reward their talent creating world-class organizations.
We are your trusted advisors
Whether your company is focused on a new therapeutic or equipment that allows a hospital unit to run more efficiently, our consultants are experienced in understanding the nuance of your unique business and its long-term strategy. We use that knowledge to create a holistic view of your organization, its culture, and its human capital strategy.
We provide tailored solutions
Our consultants connect business and leadership strategies, analytics, and compliance frameworks to solve problems. The result is a compensation program design that is tailored to your unique circumstances and is aligned with how you manage and develop the talent within your organization.
Together, we see goal-oriented results
We believe in a partnership approach. Building trust and facilitating open and productive communication between management, the board, and your Pearl Meyer team is the key to achieving success. We help construct a shared, proactive, and goal-oriented vision for your compensation and leadership programs that produces results, not surprises.
Approach & Partnership
Understand
your key business drivers and your mission, vision, and organizational culture.
Evaluate
the external environment.
Execute
core committee responsibilities: compensation, leadership, and communication.
Drive
key outcomes: a high performance leadership culture and exceptional business results.
Industry Trends and Perspectives
Getting a Jump on Salary Budgets at Life Sciences Companies
Advisor Blog
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Initial US salary budget estimates for 2025 based on consistent input from clients and colleagues.
Severance Benefits in Emerging Biotech Companies
Ask the Expert Interview
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Given a challenging financial climate in the industry, companies are asking when and why to implement severance protections for their executives.
Peer Group Development for Life Sciences Companies
Ask the Expert Interview
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An interview exploring the most impactful criteria for an industry-specific executive compensation peer group.
Trends in Director Pay Litigation Against Biotech Companies
Advisor Blog
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To understand how director compensation lawsuits are impacting our biotech clients, we reviewed fourteen recent settlement agreements.
Biopharma IPOs: Trends in Executive Compensation Planning and Design
Article
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A review of exec pay trends and data from newly public biopharmas.
Understanding the Norms for Private Biopharma Board Compensation
Ask the Expert Interview
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Unique circumstances like life-cycle stage or capital funding can complicate pay for these directors, but there are some common strategies.
Biopharma Fundraising and the Related Compensation Considerations
Article
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After a new funding round, there are three specific compensation questions to address.
Key Considerations for Biopharma Equity Plan Amendments
Article
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Biopharma companies with share constraints can adopt several best practice provisions to maximize the chance of success.
Biotech Compensation Trends: Common Questions for 2024
Ask the Expert Interview
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Significant industry dynamics are driving a number of similar client questions. We offer broad data to provide guidance and market context.
Setting Annual Incentive Compensation Goals in Biotech
Advisor Blog
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It’s a fundamental question: Should the annual bonus structure rely on execution-based or results-based goals?
The Impact of Biotech Commercialization on Executive Compensation
Article
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Commercialization is a major step toward growth and profitability, and this change has significant impact on executive pay levels and structure.
The Impact on Biotech: New Insider Trading and Related Disclosure Rules
Advisor Blog
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The biotech industry may be more heavily affected by newly required disclosures. Here’s what you need to know and do.
What Growth-Stage Biotech and Pharma Companies Need to Know About the PvP Rules
Article
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While the rules are clear on what needs to be done to comply with pay vs. performance disclosure, there are unique challenges for biotech and pharma.
Juggling Biotech Equity Grant Size, Dilution, and Retention
Advisor Blog
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A decline in share prices creates challenges in the current equity grant cycle. Our data show how biotech companies are making adjustments.
Option Repricing or Exchanges in Development Biotech
Advisor Blog
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For biotech, the retention value of options is currently in jeopardy. Here are several key points to weigh if your company is considering strong action.
Beyond Equity: Strategies to Retain Top Life Sciences Talent
Article
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How companies in a highly volatile market can focus on mission, culture, and the overall employee experience to boost retention.
Biotech Layoffs: Ideas for Creating a Fair Compensation Plan
Advisor Blog
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When considering staffing reductions, a fair and empathetic compensation program is imperative in the tight-knit biotech and pharma industries.
Winning the Talent War in Life Sciences
Podcast
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Developing an effective compensation strategy can be less than straightforward for companies that are still pre-revenue.
Transitioning From Stock Options to RSUs
Article
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Fundamental information about tax treatment of restricted stock and RSUs that can help companies add these vehicles to their pay mix in a smart way.
We help life science companies create compensation and leadership strategies that deliver exceptional business results.
Learn how we can help you.
Get in touch with us
Strategy-Driven Consulting
We believe in the power of connecting compensation and leadership strategy to help our clients enable and reward individual and organizational success.
Survey and Governance Data
Pearl Meyer is a powerhouse of both survey and proxy data. Our survey team produces over 50 annual compensation surveys and our partner, Main Data Group, offers public company governance and compensation data.