Description
Evaluating the Medical Advisor-Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Function addresses what upper level management, MSL managers and MSLs have struggled with for long – establishing appropriate practices to evaluate a MSL’s work. We find the issue mainly lies in the nature of the MSL function, a function that evolves with a product, from early phases to maturity. Whereas the set of activities of a MSL stays fairly the same throughout, they are applied to various degrees based on where the supported product are in their lifecycle.
So then, how best should the evaluation of the MSL role be handled? Should it follow one single path, with similar focus across time or should the evaluation follow distinct criteria based on what needs to be done in each phase of the product lifecycle? These are questions that the majority of MSL Managers face year after year, with no real answers.
While we believe there should be somewhat of an overhaul to the traditional model, we conducted this study to identify most common trends and perceptions amongst medical affairs executives surveyed through the research. And in the process, provide a performance assessment model that encompasses all findings.
The report findings are based on exchanges with 37 executives and MSLs representing 26 companies located in 11 countries.
