Medical Science Liaison, Oncology, Gulf

Astrazeneca Pharma India Ltd.; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrazeneca Pharma India Ltd. is seeking an experienced Medical Science Liaison in Oncology to engage with KEEs, discuss disease areas and clinical data in a non-promotional, scientifically rigorous context.

The role aims to generate actionable insights for the brand team, build strategic medical partnerships with major hospitals in the UAE, support evidence generation, and facilitate education across regional stakeholders while upholding ethics and compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience in Medical Affairs role in pharmaceutical industry
• Established track record of basic or clinical research
• For Internal Candidates: minimum of 2 years experience in AstraZeneca with strong performance record and no compliance-related issues
• For All Candidates: proficiency in English and strong communication and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain and expand relationships with Key External Experts (KEEs) and other stakeholders.
• Identify, prioritize and engage non-traditional stakeholders (policy makers, payer groups, government, researchers).
• Provide strategic medical insights to shape medical and brand strategy and guide evidence generation.
• Present scientific data at meetings and educate internal and external stakeholders in a non-promotional, scientific manner.
• Organize and participate in scientific events and collaborations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies.

Skills

Fluency in English

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Presentation skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in medicine, Pharmacy, Pharmacology or Biomedical sciences

Master's degree in a scientific discipline

Job description

Medical Science Liaison Oncology

Job Description

Medical Science Liaison (MSL) possesses extensive scientific expertise in respective therapeutic area and engages in scientific discussions and presentations with KEEs about the disease area, and clinical data in a non-promotional context.

This role is accountable for generating actionable insights from KEEs and communicating these to the brand team to shape the Medical and Brand strategy.

This role is responsible for a highly strategic product and disease area that involves working extensively with external stakeholders to forge strong relations and foster scientific and strategic partnerships within major hospitals and institutions/ authorities in their assigned territory and non-traditional stakeholders (E.g. policy and decision makers, payer groups, government, researchers, and others to help bridge the gaps and provide health system solutions.

Typical Accountabilities

• Build, enhance, maintain advocacy of Key External Experts (KEEs)
• Identify, prioritize, and expand KEEs to include non-traditional stakeholders (E.g. policy and decision makers, payer groups, government, researchers, and others) based on scientific/clinical expertise and practice change influence within a specific hospital and institution/ authorities, and engage in robust scientific discussions and medical advancements in a balanced, objective, and accurate way.
• Identify, and prioritize accounts based on patient care pathway and map the multidisciplinary team and maturity.
• Provide AZ with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice trends, HCP insight and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge, patient journey, and disease management.
• Foster scientific partnerships with KEEs to help advance disease understanding and to achieve evidence-based changes in medical practice that are consistent with Medical Affairs strategy & objectives, such as:

• i. Interact in the field with the medical community in the context of various medical projects such as clinical trials, Non-Interventional Studies, Investigator Sponsored Studies (ISSs), scientific exchange.
• ii. Identify potential speakers and train speakers as appropriate for local events.
• iii. Provide recommendations for advisory board / round table discussion participants and serve as faculty/facilitators for advisory board meetings.
• iv. Present scientific data to HCPs in both group (Medically led meetings) and one on one setting.
• v. Facilitate continuing medical education events for HCPs.
• vi. Support evidence generation in the region aligned with the medical strategy of disease area and product.

Build and implement scientific programs to address unmet medical needs in priority disease area(s)

• Collect and share actionable insights that enhance the value and appropriate use of AZ products and disease management to internal stakeholders.
• Engage in strategic planning meetings and medical-scientific presentations with medication access stakeholders, institutional decision makers and other external stakeholders to drive better clinical decisions and enhance medication accessibility within the assigned hospital or institution. These discussions are scientific in nature and must be clearly separated from promotional and/ or other business discussions.
• Organize and facilitate scientific events on healthcare institutions and their multi-disciplinary teams related to the therapeutic area to ensure holistic approach to patient care within their hospital and institution.
• Embed a comprehensive healthcare system and patient experience understanding in prioritized hospitals and institutions to transform care and improve patient outcomes.

Act as scientific expert in priority disease area for internal stakeholders.

• Demonstrate expertise and knowledge of AZ products, emerging therapies, competitors, patient and treatment trends, clinical trials, and scientific activities within the disease area and continuously updates this expertise and knowledge.
• Provide the AZ internal stakeholders with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice, trends and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge and medical treatment options/ guidelines through periodic therapeutic area and product trainings.
• Provide scientific support at AZ sponsored educational events.
• Plan and execute regional medical activities during the product launch processes.

Medical Information

• Respond to unsolicited requests for information about unapproved AZ products or unapproved uses of approved products, presenting such information in an objective, well balanced, substantiated manner that is scientific in tone and content, free of promotional messages, truthful, and is not misleading.
• Demonstrate appropriate response and documents the provision of accurate, scientific data in response to unsolicited scientific questions posed by healthcare providers with Company Policies, and applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.

Desired Candidate Profile

Education, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Essential

For External Candidates:

• Minimum of 2 years experience in Medical Affairs role in pharmaceutical industry
• Established track record of basic or clinical research

For Internal Candidates:

• Minimum of 2 years experience in AstraZeneca with strong performance record and no compliance-related issues

For All Candidates:

• Bachelor s degree in medicine, Pharmacy, Pharmacology or Biomedical sciences, and or master s degree in a scientific discipline
• Fluency in English
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate internally and externally using the different channel mix.
• Excellence ability to learn and acquire scientific concepts and knowledge
• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• High level analytical and conceptual thinking
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix multi-cultural organization and cross-functional environment.

Desirable

• Doctoral degree in a scientific discipline (e.g. M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D.)
• Experience in pharmaceutical industry, regulatory environment, clinical or preclinical research, and knowledge of a therapeutic area disease state and treatment.
• Experience with basic research, drug discovery, drug development and KEE interactions.