MSL the superheroes of the pharma industry...

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 In years past, the role of the medical-affairs department was narrowly defined. Medical science liaisons (MSLs) served as a bridge of communication between R&D and sales and marketing teams, almost always during the crucial period spanning clinical trials and market launch. 
But since high-science drugs have captured the industry's attention — and relegated mass-market ones to the backburner — MSLs have become increasingly crucial cogs in the commercialization machine.

With more high-science drugs, the need for individuals fluent in the science to carry on deeper clinical conversations with HCPs and payers increases. Factor in continuing technological advances and a boom in the volume of real-world health data and you've established the perfect storm of circumstances for MSLs to rise in prominence. 

“Their traditional role was reactive,” notes Dr. Thérèse McCall, a member of the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) executive leadership committee. “Historically, MSLs were not valued as partners by clinical development and may have been considered not to have the relevant expertise. Increasingly though, there is a greater awareness on the value and perspective MSLs bring. As a result, there is a stronger voice for the patient, the disease state, and the potential place of the asset in therapy. This results in better trials and launches with more targeted stakeholder data.” 

MSLs will continue to work with other arms of pharma organizations on their traditional tasks: 

•  -ensuring regulatory compliance, 
• -responding to customer questions that fall outside the label, and 
• -collaborating with investigators on presentations, among others. 

However, a case study from Cutting Edge Information found that more than half of MSLs — 60% — have become active at the registration or launch of a drug. 

“MSLs are the superheroes of the pharma industry,” says Natalie DeMasi, research team leader at Cutting Edge Information. “You don't need many MSLs to have a profound impact. You just need good ones.” 
Yet DeMasi still believes that MSLs may be underutilized. “Most won't start before phase II [of a trial], mainly because of resources, whether it's money or a lack of time. MSLs still have to prove their value,” she adds.(...) 

Patrick Reilly, CEO of PhactMI, agrees, adding, “Medical liaisons play a key role, especially now that traditional sales reps are not enough. Products are more sophisticated and the science is different. MSLs are highly trained and scientifically based.”

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Donde no llega el VM...llega el MSL.

A key MSL responsibility is to target KOLs and the provider community, notes Robert Groebel, VP of global medical strategies for Veeva Systems. He believes that duty will evolve to “playing a role in identification of potential trial sites.” Groebel sees the biotech world eventually “forgoing a sales organization to focus on MSLs pre- and post-launch.” (Más)

Ver también...todo sobre MSL en PHARMACOSERÍAS

 

What is a Medical Science Liaison? from Medical Science Liaison Society