If you've ever wondered who answers the tough scientific questions after a drug is approved, meet Medical Affairs. They are the crucial bridge between the innovative science of a pharmaceutical company and the healthcare professionals who use their medicines.
Think of a pharmaceutical company having two main engines. One is Commercial (focused on selling the product). The other is Research & Development (focused on creating the product).
Medical Affairs sits squarely in the middle, ensuring everything is based on rock-solid science.
Their job is not to sell. Their job is to educate, collaborate, and generate evidence.
Here’s what they actually do:
They are Scientific Experts. They have deep knowledge about their disease area and the company's products. This team is often made up of MDs, PharmDs, and PhDs.
They Talk Science with Doctors. Through Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), they have peer-to-peer conversations with key opinion leaders (KOLs). They share data, answer complex questions, and bring insights from the medical community back to the company.
They Generate Real-World Evidence. After a drug is launched, they run studies to see how it performs in the real world, outside of strict clinical trials. How does it work for different patients? What is the long-term impact?
They Ensure Everything is Accurate. They review every piece of material, from marketing slides to patient brochures, to make sure the information is scientifically correct and fair.
Medical Affairs ensures that a company's work is always grounded in good science and that patient care comes first. They turn data into dialogue and science into strategy.
It's a fascinating, fast-growing field that sits at the very heart of modern medicine.
- YZ
I'm Yasser, a freelance medical writer.
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