Medical Affairs is the strategic face of the company, be it a pharmaceutical company or a medical device manufacturer. It is a function that has taken on a new dimension in recent years, following the significant revolution in the life sciences world. Innovation in digital technologies and biological sciences is evolving at lightning speed, bringing with it an unprecedented amount of data.
Medical Affairs professionals, having among their skills; medical expertise, scientific know-how and credibility among stakeholders, are increasingly recognised as natural "owners" of scientific knowledge and data inside and outside the company.
Between 2017 and 2018, we produced 90% of the total amount of data ever existed (1). There are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day at our current pace (2). Still, knowing the amount of data created every day means nothing if we don't know how to use it strategically. This imposes an urgent need to put the ability to understand, analyse, process, and communicate scientific data back at the company's heart.
This implies a significant evolution of business models, both around a pharmaceutical product or a medical device and beyond the product to a broader therapeutic context. Consequently, the analysis of more structured and complex patient data has become central, e.g., supporting decisions concerning the use of a given product or demonstrating its value to the patient in a real-world context.
To address these changes and innovations, together with the thirst for data that brings actual added value, Medical Affairs is using a range of strategies and approaches: from Real-World Evidence to electronic medical records, also using new data sources and structures such as associated genomics and innovative tools for data collection, analysis and interpretation.
What are the goals of the Medical Affairs?
In the coming years, Medical Affairs will have to:
- Drive a data generation process that is fast and integrates with other areas of the business
- Develop and articulate the clinical and economic value of the product to reinforce its presence in the market and confidence in stakeholders and accelerate access to treatment to ensure that the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time
- Improve the decision-making process of doctors and patients by involving third parties such as suppliers
- Set a strategic vision that generates significant medical impact for the company
Medical Affairs training
Medical Affairs comprises clinical research, development, disease awareness, communications and liaison roles, scientific publications, and medical evaluations, all shaping the world of pharma and medical devices of today. Courses on Medical Affairs address this ever-changing field and are designed for professionals responsible for managing drugs/devices within the area. Through our Medical Affairs workshops, seminars, and hands-on sessions, one may increase the knowledge and expertise needed to overcome the challenges of this role daily.
1. Bernard Marr, "How Much Data Do We Create Every Day? The Mind-Blowing Stats Everyone Should Read," Forbes, May 21, 2018, Forbes.com: Accessed on April 5 2022
2. How Much Data Is Created Every Day? [27 Staggering Stats] October 28, 2021. Accessed on April 5 2022: shorturl.at/uFOQ0
Medical Affairs courses: what people in this field actually do
Medical Affairs is the function that connects scientific research, clinical practice and business decisions. Professionals in this area generate and communicate scientific evidence, support internal clinical decisions, build valuable relationships with the medical-scientific community, and collaborate across functions, from regulatory to market access.
LS Academy's Medical Affairs courses cover the full scope of this role: from clinical research to real world evidence, from scientific communication to compliance, through to managing relationships with patients, associations and external stakeholders.
Medical Affairs training: how LS Academy structures the path
LS Academy's Medical Affairs training combines theory, workshops and real case studies, designed for professionals already working in pharmaceutical or medical device companies. The "Medical Affairs Essentials" path, for example, guides Medical Advisors and Medical Science Liaisons through building scientific, strategic and relational skills: the role of Medical Affairs across a drug's life cycle, compliance management, scientific communication and stakeholder negotiation.
Other courses go deeper into specific parts of the function: professional communication and negotiation, writing scientific documents, consent as a legal basis for data processing in clinical-scientific research, or the role of the Scientific Service Manager.
Working in the pharmaceutical industry in Medical Affairs: what it takes
Working in the pharmaceutical industry in Medical Affairs takes a mix of technical-scientific and relational skills. It requires a solid grounding in clinical research and real world evidence, the ability to turn scientific evidence into coherent strategy, and knowledge of the regulatory and compliance rules that govern the relationship between industry and healthcare professionals.
On top of that comes the communication side: people in Medical Affairs need to engage clinicians, KOLs and cross-functional teams, handle complex conversations and build agreements that lead to shared goals. It's a role that calls for continuous learning, since regulation, research methods and digital tools keep changing.
Patient advocacy: engaging with patient associations
Patient advocacy is a growing part of Medical Affairs work. Patient associations are direct partners in building support programmes, designing patient-centred clinical studies and spreading accurate health information. LS Academy runs a dedicated path on this topic, for professionals who need to structure patient engagement relationships in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.
Frequently asked questions
What does someone working in Medical Affairs actually do?
They generate and communicate scientific evidence, support internal clinical decisions, build relationships with the medical-scientific community and collaborate with other business functions, from regulatory to market access.
Who are LS Academy's Medical Affairs courses for?
Medical Advisors, Medical Science Liaisons and professionals already working in pharmaceutical or medical device companies, as well as those in clinical research, medical writing or regulatory affairs who want to deepen their knowledge of this function.
What does working in the pharmaceutical industry in Medical Affairs involve?
It means combining scientific skills, such as critically reading clinical evidence and real world evidence, with relational and regulatory skills: stakeholder communication, compliance management and cross-functional collaboration.
What is patient advocacy in the pharmaceutical sector?
It's the work of building relationships with patient associations, to align clinical studies, support programmes and scientific communication with the real needs of people living with a condition.