MSL Talk #137 | Market Access and the MSL Role

Summary

In this episode of MSL Talk with Tom Caravella, guest Rucha Parikh, Associate Director of Medical Affairs Strategy and Training at CTI Biopharma, discusses the critical role of Market Access in the pharmaceutical industry. Parikh explains how Market Access ensures patient access to prescribed drugs through reimbursement and affordability strategies, and its relationship with Medical Affairs. The conversation highlights the importance of MSLs understanding Market Access for effective collaboration and the 'unicorn of skills' needed for career growth in the field. The podcast also offers advice for aspiring MSLs on breaking into the industry and the challenges they may face.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Market Access is a crucial department within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, ensuring patients can access prescribed drugs in a timely manner, focusing on reimbursement and affordability.
• 📈 Market Access typically operates as an independent function but collaborates closely with commercial and medical affairs teams, highlighting the importance of interdepartmental synergy.
• 💼 MSLs (Medical Science Liaisons) play a pivotal role in clinical presentations to payers and specialty pharmacies, which are essential for setting the stage for payer understanding of disease states and products.
• 🏢 The structure of Market Access teams can vary significantly depending on the size of the pharmaceutical company, with larger companies having more specialized and extensive teams.
• 🔍 MSLs are often not initially trained on Market Access, indicating a learning opportunity for those looking to understand the full scope of drug launch and patient access.
• 💡 MSLs can enhance their value by understanding Market Access strategies and how they intersect with their roles, which can lead to more effective communication and collaboration.
• 🌐 Smaller companies may require MSLs to wear multiple hats, including aspects of Market Access, which can provide a broader learning experience and increased responsibility.
• 🚀 MSLs interested in advancing their careers should consider gaining 'unicorn of skills', which includes launch experience, commercial compliance, and payer or Market Access experience.
• 📚 Aspiring MSLs are encouraged to be persistent, tailor their applications based on their clinical experiences, and learn from each interview experience to improve their chances of securing a role.
• ⏳ MSLs should be mindful of the time constraints faced by healthcare professionals and adapt their communication strategies accordingly to respect the limited availability of these key stakeholders.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the MSL Talk podcast?

The MSL Talk podcast is designed for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and all things related to the field of medical affairs.

What is the role of Rucha Parikh in the podcast?

Rucha Parikh is a guest on the podcast, where he discusses the topic of Market Access, its importance, and its relation to the MSL role.

What is Market Access in the pharmaceutical industry?

Market Access is a department within a pharmaceutical or biotech company that ensures patients can access prescribed drugs in a timely manner, focusing on reimbursement and affordability.

How does Market Access relate to MSLs?

MSLs play a vital role in collaborating with Market Access teams, especially during drug launches, by delivering clinical presentations to payers and specialty pharmacies to educate them about the disease state and product.

What are the typical responsibilities of a Market Access team?

A Market Access team is responsible for ensuring product availability through trade and distribution partners, patient access, and reimbursement by commercial plans and government payers.

How does the structure of Market Access teams differ between large and small pharmaceutical companies?

In larger companies, Market Access teams may be more specialized with separate teams for different therapeutic areas, whereas smaller companies may have a more general team handling all aspects, often wearing multiple hats due to limited resources.

What advice does Rucha Parikh give to MSLs looking to learn more about Market Access?

Rucha suggests that MSLs should connect with internal stakeholders, use online resources like LinkedIn and the AMCP website, and reach out to colleagues in Market Access to understand their role and responsibilities better.

What are the 'unicorn of skills' that Rucha Parikh mentions for MSLs?

The 'unicorn of skills' refers to having launch experience, commercial compliance experience, and payer or Market Access experience, which are highly valued in the MSL role.

What challenges does Rucha Parikh foresee for MSLs in 2023?

Rucha anticipates challenges related to access issues and the increasing time constraints faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and key opinion leaders (KOLs), requiring MSLs to be respectful of their time and flexible in communication.

What advice does Rucha Parikh give to aspiring MSLs trying to break into the pharmaceutical industry?

Rucha advises aspiring MSLs to be persistent, learn from each interview experience, tailor their applications based on their clinical experiences, and reach out to professionals in the field for guidance and networking opportunities.