Senior Medical Science Liaison – Rare Disease

JOB TITLE  

Senior Medical Science Liaison – Rare Disease

Location: Jeddah

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

ROLE SUMMARY

AstraZeneca is accelerating the expansion of our geographical footprint in rare diseases following the acquisition of Alexion in 2021. Rare disease is a high-growth therapy area with rapid innovation and significant unmet medical need. Over 7,000 rare diseases are known today – yet less than 1% of them have an approved treatment.

As we build our position as a Rare Disease leader, we seek a Rare Disease Medical Science Liaison to join our Medical Affairs team in Jeddah, KSA.

As a Medical Science Liaison – Rare Disease you'll play a pivotal role in channelling our scientific capabilities to bring an important new therapy in a rare disease setting into clinical practice, making a positive impact on patients' lives.

The Medical Science Liaison – Rare Disease is a professional with scientific, clinical and therapeutic area expertise responsible for providing medical and scientific support to healthcare professionals aligned to the use of medicines in our combined rare disease portfolio. You will report into the Medical Manager Rare Disease.

In this role you will be expected to identify and cultivate relationships with HCPs working in the field including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and pharmacists as well as other key strategic partners, such as patient advocacy groups. You will conduct educational programs on disease state and the appropriate use of our medicines, consistent with Medical Affairs plans and objectives. You will also respond to customer inquiries to ensure focused clinical and scientific information that supports the appropriate use of these medicines.

Additionally you will deliver clinical and scientific information to support appropriate use of the medicine in the relevant therapy area in a patient focused manner; maintain expertise in disease state management, keep abreast of emerging therapies and the therapeutic landscape; gather customer insights regarding the use of the medicine in the wider therapeutic landscape to help inform medical and commercial strategies while adhering to internal standards, processes and complying with regulatory and compliance requirements.

What you’ll do

Build, enhance, maintain the engagement with scientific leaders (KEEs)

• Provide AZ with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice trends, HCP insight and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge and medical treatment
• Share emerging data with HCPs, discussing all aspects of the data in a scientific, objective, and balanced way.
• Responsible for identifying and developing scientifically based relationships with KEEs in Gulf markets.
• Work with HCPs as partners in scientific activities that help advance disease understanding and are consistent with Medical Affairs strategy & objectives, such as:
  • 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.
  •  Identify potential speakers and train speakers as appropriate for local events
  • Provide recommendations for advisory board/Round Table discussion participants and serve as faculty/facilitators for advisory board meetings.
  • Present scientific data to HCPs in both group (Medically led meetings) and one on one setting.
  • Facilitate continuing medical education events for HCPs.

Develop or initiate scientific programs to explore unmet medical needs in priority disease area(s) through obtaining and sharing valuable insights

• Provide actionable insights that enhance the value and appropriate use of AZ products and disease management to internal stakeholders
• Engage in strategic planning meetings with payer customers or hospital decision makers where the discussion of scientific topics is clearly separated from discussion of promotional and/or other business topics.
• 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 based on training direction and approved resources provided.
• Support the Medical Manager and Marketing Team in development of non-promotional and promotional materials/programs.

Act as scientific expert in priority disease area for internal stakeholders

• Continuously acquire and update necessary scientific knowledge on therapeutic area and relevant compounds. 
• 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, competitor information
• Provide scientific support at AZ sponsored educational events
• Gather, monitor, and share competitor knowledge that may affect company strategies
• Planning and executing regional medical activities during the product launch processes.

Medical Background Training

• Serve as a medical resource for the sales representatives and accurately answer any medical question they may have to help them utilize their approved materials and to help them understand therapeutic area.
• Participate/develop/conduct therapeutic area and product trainings and periodic scientific updates to the internal customers

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.

Only Applications in KSA will be considered.

Essential for the role

• Bachelor’s degree in medicine, Pharmacy, Pharmacology.
• Experience in rare disease therapeutic area
• Minimum 2 years of experience in medical affairs.
• Experience in oncology, neurology, rare disease and/or critical care specialties are highly regarded.
• Demonstrated expertise in synthesizing scientific information and communicating it effectively at peer level with HCPs.
• Excellent ability to learn and capacity for scientific concepts and knowledge.
• Previous experience in field medical role
• Direct patient care experience or equivalent experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• Strong presentation skills - effectively communicating medical data/concepts
• Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.)
• Excellent project management ability
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to work independently

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn

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Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.