Medical Affairs is now considered a third strategic pillar within Biopharma & MedTech innovation. Business change is driving evolving working models and structures that encompass the product but also extend beyond the therapeutic context. A critical and significant challenge lies in the increasing complexity of medical science on a daily basis. Clear and concise communication is required for all stakeholders, from physicians to patients to payers. Alongside the current challenges, there have been significant advancements in biological sciences and digital technology, contributing to the rapid pace of change. To provide context, many companies are struggling to manage the massive quantity of data being generated, with an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day. As the life sciences industry navigates through real-world evidence (RWE), electronic medical records (EMR), and novel sources of data derived from genomics, it becomes evident that a more ambitious and forward-thinking structure is required for the Medical Affairs function.
Based on our most recent data for Medical Affairs across England & Wales, AstraZeneca made the most medical affairs hires in 2022. GSK ranked second in terms of hiring volumes, with a total of 82 new jobs published in 2022. However, there was a year-on-year drop of 20.7% in Medical Affairs job volumes compared to 2021. From a CRO perspective, Syneos Health was among the best performing firms for medical affairs vacancies. So, why such a rapid drop? One reason may be related to the robust number of open roles in 2021. Medical Affairs itself is also undergoing change, and often, with change, there is a period of slowdown, recalibration, and then moving forward with new or evolving roles.
In a world of uncertainty, one thing that has emerged is that Medical Affairs professionals are the natural owners of scientific data throughout the lifecycle. This potential offers Medical Affairs the opportunity to move beyond its former status as primarily a support function and to assume a new role as a primary strategic pillar of the organization, alongside Research and Development, Commercial, and Market Access.
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Yvette Cleland - CEO | Cpl UK