Medical Science Liaison Services Excellence: Emerging Trends and Mitigating Risks

STUDY OVERVIEW

Concerns about compliance and legal limitations are forcing companies to re-examine how they utilize Medical Science Liasons (MSLs). For many companies under a Corporate Integrity Agreement, there is a greater perceived risk over the next few years when it comes to everything from regulatory bodies to changing industry standards.

Best Practices, LLC conducted this study to the provide information on how the roles of MSLs are evolving in the changing pharmaceutical environment and how regulatory concerns are affecting the MSL landscape. This research presents benchmarks around risk factors influencing MSL services in the future, different changes companies are making to MSL policies based on their risk aversion, and the level of support MSLs provide government and advocacy groups. Biopharmaceutical and medical device executives can use this study to determine the best practices for facing the upcoming industry challenges.

Note: Data are presented in two segments: The total benchmark class and a U.S. only segment.


KEY TOPICS

• Restrictiveness of MSL Interaction
• Risk Factors Challenging MSL Services
• Key Pitfalls Disrupting MSL Effectiveness
• Relationships with Government Affairs and MSL services

• How restrictive are companies now compared to 12-24 months ago in regards to MSL interaction with health care providers
• How restrictive will companies be in the next 12-24 months
• Risk that varying scenarios will impact MSL ability to serve KOLs in the next 24 months
• Current and future risk aversion compared to how likely companies will be to make changes to MSL policies going forward
• Pitfalls faced that disrupt or threaten MSLs effectiveness in serving KOLs
• Structures that work best to provide MSL services in coordination with Government Affairs services
• Frequency with which MSLs support policy and advocacy group
• Expected changes that will most effect MSLs abilities to access and serve next 12-24 months

• Corporate Integrity Agreements and Lawsuits Viewed With Minimal Concern: Only 25% of companies see a “high risk” that a CIA or lawsuit will discourage companies from providing services to KOLs and attempting to collaborate with them in the next two years.

• Restrictions on MSL Interactions with Physicians Stabilizing: After many companies became more restrictive in the past two years (48% reported doing so), only 38% expect greater restriction on MSL activities with doctors in the next two years. Only 39% of companies with existing CIAs said they expect restrictions to tighten in the next two years.

Industries Profiled:
Biotech; Pharmaceutical; Manufacturing; Consumer Products; Diagnostic; Medical Device; Health Care


Companies Profiled:
Advanced Biohealing; Allergan; Amylin; AstraZeneca; Bayer; Boehringer Ingelheim; Boston Scientific; Cephalon; EndoPharma; Eisai; Gambro; G.E. Healthcare; Genetech; GlaxoSmithKline; Ironwood Pharma; Kadmon Pharma; Laboratorios Esteve; Lantheus Medical Imaging; Metronic; Merck Sharp and Dohme; Novartis; Novo Nordisk; Onyx Pharma; Pfizer; QLT; Quidel; Shire; Takeda; Theravance; UCB

If you purchase Best Practice Database document(s), you will have 30 days from the date of purchase to apply some or all of the cost of the document(s) toward the cost of a Full Access Individual, Pharma, Group or University Membership. Write us at DatabaseTeam@bestpracticesllc.com or call David Guinn at 919-767-9179 if you have any questions.