Medical Affairs remains a cornerstone of the UK pharmaceuticals industry, bridging clinical innovation and market access. The sector has faced persistent headwinds, including a further decline in the UK’s global ranking for pharma R&D investment and tighter funding amid economic uncertainty. Clinical trial delivery continues to lag behind European peers, reflecting ongoing contraction. Nevertheless, the government’s £600 million Life Sciences Sector Plan has brought renewed optimism, with major investment in health data infrastructure aimed at accelerating the development and approval of new treatments. Despite an 8% national drop in vacancy volumes compared with 2024, London again proved resilient, posting an 18.7% year-on-year increase in Medical Affairs roles and reinforcing the capital’s central role in sectoral recovery.
As we close 2025, Medical Advisers continue to represent the largest single role type, accounting for ~30% of all openings through November, supported by a 12.3% rise in vacancies. This growth underlines sustained demand for specialists skilled in scientific communication and evidence generation amid evolving regulations. The sharpest hiring acceleration has occurred within biotechnology companies, where the monthly average number of Medical Affairs postings has risen ~75% compared with 2024, driven by advances in personalised medicine. Even so, biotechnology firms still allocate fewer than 1.5% of their scientific vacancies to Medical Affairs, compared with closer to 10% in large pharmaceutical companies — a clear reflection of differing organisational scale and maturity.
The role of artificial intelligence remains a dominant theme. The 2025 ZS Medical Affairs Outlook survey found that 72% of leaders now prioritise AI for literature synthesis, real-world evidence generation, and medical strategy — up from 58% the previous year. Although automation is streamlining routine tasks such as publication analysis, a LinkedIn poll revealed that 45% of professionals fear longer-term role displacement, prompting widespread calls for upskilling in AI governance, ethics, and human oversight. Early adopters report efficiency gains of around 30%, yet trust remains cautious, with 62% expressing concern over AI use in compliance-sensitive activities.
Looking ahead to 2026, the industry approaches the new year with cautious optimism. MHRA reforms, now fully enacted, have reduced median clinical trial approval times to 41 days, with further efficiencies expected from April 2026 through adaptive trial designs and enhanced rare-disease pathways. Success will hinge on balancing technological advancement with investment in human expertise. Continued focus on talent development, London’s innovation ecosystem, and cross-sector collaboration will be essential to ensure UK Medical Affairs retains its competitive edge in an era of rapid scientific and digital transformation.