In a survey of key opinion leaders (KOLs), 94% agreed that scientific exchange between clinical experts and biopharmaceutical companies is becoming more important. While this is positive for medical affairs, resources don’t always go hand in hand with demand. As the global head of medical affairs excellence at a top 20 biopharma acknowledged at the Veeva Commercial Summit, … [Read more...]

Claims about AI are everywhere at the moment. LinkedIn seems to have been taken over by it. Co-pilot, Open AI, Claude, and numerous in-app AI options feel like the equivalent of the “talking paperclip” offering help that often does not live up to expectations. So, how do we separate the hype from the tools that can really support time management and, importantly, credibility as … [Read more...]

And How it Will Set You Apart in an AI World As an MSL before the advent of AI, you were the walking embodiment of scientific expertise. Your deep clinical knowledge, data interpretation, and peer-reviewed fluency were the currency of credibility. But today? AI can analyze faster. Summarize better. Even anticipate questions before they’re asked. So, where does that … [Read more...]

Over the past decade, the role of the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) has undergone a remarkable transformation. What began as a primarily scientific communication function has expanded into one of strategic influence, project leadership, and even account management in some contexts. In this article, I will explore this shift, the drivers behind it, and what it could mean for the … [Read more...]

Corporate Medical Affairs Department, Zydus Lifesciences In the current healthcare landscape, where scientific credibility and strategic field execution go hand in hand, the role of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) has grown tremendously. These professionals now serve as the vital link between scientific advancement and clinical practice. Although their function is distinctly … [Read more...]

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is expected to bond with the HCPs and have long-standing relationships, which can be the root of strategic performance. Thus, the MSL can be regarded as the “CEO” of the attributed territory. As CEOs plan to have an impact on the customers with their products, the MSL should consider the interactions with HCPs as a starting point to set out a … [Read more...]

Introduction A growing body of research, including McKinsey & Company’s landmark report A Vision for Medical Affairs 2030, underscores that medical affairs will be a central driver of patient impact, innovation, and strategic influence by the next decade. According to McKinsey, medical affairs must enhance enterprise-wide leadership, integrate end-to-end data, personalize … [Read more...]

Introduction In a context where regulatory requirements, methodological complexity, and competition for patient recruitment are constantly increasing, the success of clinical studies increasingly relies on close and strategic collaboration between the industrial sponsor and healthcare professionals involved in research. At the heart of this interface, Medical Science … [Read more...]

Regulatory approval, be it from the FDA, EMA, or other agencies, is a critical milestone but not the finish line. For Medical Affairs, it marks the beginning of a new challenge: rapidly understanding how treatment is being perceived, questioned, and integrated into practice to benefit patients and communities. While internal teams prepare launch materials and field strategies, … [Read more...]

In Brazil’s evolving pharmaceutical landscape, the role of the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) has grown from a medical information channel into a key scientific partner embedded within strategic decision-making. As treatments become more scientifically complex and regulatory environments more challenging, MSLs increasingly serve as interpreters of science and stakeholders in … [Read more...]

In this article, we will explore the role of Medical Science Liaisons when misinformation arises in discussions between doctor and patient due to social media posts. Introduction  Thanks to the digital era of information, the relationship between a doctor and a patient is now vastly different than in the past. This creates both opportunities as well as challenges. One of … [Read more...]

Cell and gene therapies (CGT) are consistently revolutionizing the ability of medicine to treat or even cure diseases that were historically difficult to diagnose and treat. Sophisticated therapies, such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell and in vivo gene editing, work to treat diseases by targeting their underlying cause. However, with this advancement, new levels of … [Read more...]

Medical Affairs is a tough job. You’re not quite clinical, not quite commercial—but somehow expected to support both. You're meant to bring scientific rigour and credibility to the organisation, while also enabling uptake and positioning products for success. You’re there before launch, during launch, and long after. And yet… you’re rarely the one credited with making the … [Read more...]

Been ghosted? Ghosts might not be real, but ‘ghosting’ is for sure. It is ubiquitous in our society, happening in both our personal and professional lives. It may leave us confused and uncertain, especially if we were just actively engaged in discussion with someone or are following up to address a question they posed. Keep in mind that people are busy and pulled in many … [Read more...]

Abstract Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) serve a critical role in bridging biopharmaceutical science with real-world patient care. As a primary care Key Opinion Leader (KOL), I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with MSLs across multiple therapeutic areas and companies. This article provides an experiential lens into the evolving relationship between MSLs and KOLs. It … [Read more...]

Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) play a pivotal role in the healthcare industry, bridging the gap between academia, research, and clinical practice. They find themselves in new horizons, constantly adapting with new technology while transferring key insights with Healthcare practitioners (HCPs), key opinion leaders (KOLs), and internal stakeholders. Their unique insights into … [Read more...]

The role of the medical science liaison (MSL) within the medical affairs department is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry, playing an essential role in the exchange of scientific information between the pharmaceutical company and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Defining appropriate metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) could support the aims described in the … [Read more...]

Introduction  For decades, Medical Affairs operated within a structured hierarchy, where Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were identified through their academic contributions and conference presence. Engagement was largely confined to in-person interactions, reinforcing a top-down model of influence. However, the digital revolution has disrupted this paradigm, flattening … [Read more...]