Pharmaceutical Drug Manufacturers

Medical Science Liaison, MSL is the healthcare consulting professional who works in the pharma industry and hired by the pharmaceutical companies along with biotechnology companies. The Medical science liaison is actually the connecting link between the clinical medicines and sectors like medical device manufacturing and pharmaceutical including other healthcare industry sectors. Medical science liaison in the category of healthcare professionals has been regarded as one of the top jobs that are over six figures.

A Medical science liaison is mostly on touring job visiting clients, medical officers, physicians and hospitals. The activities and role of medical science liaison vary from company to company. Generally the company that have MSL team reports through medical affairs department.

History of Medical Science Liaison

The concept on medical science liaison was given by Upjohn for the drug tolbutamide (Orinase). Basically the MSL was initiated to provide educational awareness and build report with doctors. The medical science liaison was initiated in 1967 by the sales professional having interest in science and different social skills.

Earlier it was the least known arena but now there are thousands of MSLs working in the medical sector and serving this industry.

How to Become a Medical Science Liaison, MSL?

It is not easy to become medical science liaison, as it really requires higher education and experience. You need PhD, MD or professional graduate level degree like in nursing or life science. Most of the professionals (approximately 60-70%) are pharmacists and out of this, 10% are PhD holders and 1-2% are MD. After this you must have few years of clinical experienc that must be full-time.

Apart from all this, the medical science liaisons professional must have very good communication skills, excellent written, rapport building, interpersonal and presentation skills

Salary and Career as Medical Science Liaisons

This career is very lucrative owing to the high educational and experience requirements. The starting salary in this field starts at $100,000+ that can only go up with your experience.

Difference Between Medical Science Liaison and Sales Representative

One question that strikes in everybody's mind is how the medical science liaison job is different from the sales representative job. The primary role of sales representative is to sell a product. They work with the doctors providing direct care to the patients. Goal of the sales representative is based upon their regional and personal sales performance.

Whereas medical science liaison gives medical information, discuss disease states, provide therapeutic options and scientific exchange. MSLs are basically the scientists who exchange th information and knowledge rather than product for marketing and selling.

Role of Medical Science Liaison

There are basically five elements to define the role of medical science liaison. These are research, education, scholarship (learning), networking and service. But these roles differ from company to company.

• MSL interacts with healthcare professionals and also the academic institutions.
• They also support patient advocacy associations. For example The American Heart Associations, the Arthritis Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
• They provide clinical trial information to the managed care organizations.