Medical Science Liaison (MSL) positions are becoming more common in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. But who are MSL’s, and what do they do?
MSLs are responsible for providing timely, accurate, unbiased, and fair-balanced medical and product information to internal staff and external customers for assigned products. They are responsible for developing professional relationships with thought leaders and academic centers in assigned therapeutic area, and translating those relationships into business and research opportunities and strategies for the pharmaceitical or biotechnology company.
Job Responsibilities may include some or all of the following:
* Provide healthcare professionals and decision-makers with accurate, unbiased, balanced, and timely answers to unsolicited requests for information about company products.
* Establish scientific and clinical relationships with key opinion leaders and academic centers to expand research and educational opportunities for company products.
* Coordinate phase 4 clinical projects in the field and facilitate the submission of investigator-originated proposals; assist in site selection for clinical research projects as assigned.
* Contribute to databases of medical and scientific information regarding company products.
* Support sales training activities by serving as a product expert in training sessions.
* Document and prepare reports of adverse events related to assigned products.
* Keep abreast of medical and scientific developments in the assigned therapeutic area by continuously reviewing literature in the field, monitoring competitor activities, networking with experts, and attending conferences.
* Proactively disseminate information about significant developments in the assigned therapeutic area to internal staff, providing analysis and interpretation about how the developments might affect the company’s interests.
* Assist in preparing information needed to launch a new product and manage significant developments for marketed products such as standard response letters, formulary templates, white papers, and information for use by drug information vendors (eg, Facts and Comparisons, Medical Letter, ASHP Formulary Service).
* Support company efforts to disseminate product information to professional and consumer-oriented organizations.
* Assist in the development and review of scientific presentation materials and slide decks.
* Actively participate in selected advisory board, expert consultant, and clinical investigator, meetings.
* Actively participate in key medical and scientific conferences by staffing medical information booths, gathering intelligence on competitors, and critically observing company-sponsored speakers and continuing medical education (CME) programs.
Basic Qualifications
* A doctoral degree is strongly preferred. Degree must be in one or more of the following disciplines: medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or pharmaceutical/life sciences.
* Knowledge of disease processes, pharmacotherapeutics, and company products for assigned therapeutic area and skills in drug literature evaluation and scientific presentations are essential. For this reason, formal training in the form of residencies or fellowships in drug information or a therapeutic area are preferred.
* Must have knowledge or training in corporate and departmental policies and procedures, various computer applications (eg, MS Windows, Word, GroupWise), the GMA Electronic Data Management System, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promotion regulations, and American Medical Association (AMA) and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) guidelines.
* Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Ability to work independently
* Ability to manage and prioritize activities
* Willingness and ability to travel.
