INTRODUCTION OF
THE MEDICAL AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT
Job Description
Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), using current medical and scientific knowledge in the relevant disease area, exchange medical and scientific information with external researchers and medical experts, and conduct activities to improve the quality of medical care and maximize the benefits for patients based on the obtained information. A distinction is made between MSLs and commercial staff, and at Astellas, MSLs belong to the MSL Department, Medical Affairs and are responsible for areas considered important in terms of medical strategies.
MA, to which MSLs belong, plans and implements research and studies of marketed drugs, and provides support for clinical research to provide healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients with accurate information about scientifically proven safety and efficacy.
Due to limited product information gained through clinical trials, MSLs accumulate the medical and scientific information needed by healthcare professionals in clinical settings, and promote drugs so that many patients can use them safely.
MA is composed of six departments: “Operational Excellence Department,” “Medical Oncology Department,” “Medical Specialty Department,” “Medical Science Liaison Department,” “Medical Communication Department,” and “HEOR Department,” and according to their functions and roles, these departments conduct tasks globally in cooperation with overseas development bases (such as the US, Europe, and Asia).
Medical Science Liaison Department
As experts in the relevant disease area, MSLs build a good relationship of trust with external medical and scientific experts. Based on current medical and scientific knowledge, MSLs conduct scientific exchanges, identify unmet medical needs and clinical questions and medical insight in clinical settings, and summarize and analyze the collected information to improve the quality of medical strategies for promoting drugs and implement these strategies. They also share the obtained information with Research, Development, and other departments within the company to help each department develop a strategy, and they organize and plan symposia to promote awareness of disease, diagnosis, and treatment outside the company.
Description of other departments
Medical Oncology Department, Medical Specialty Department
The Medical Oncology and Specialty departments are participate in and contribute to global medical strategy planning, as well as plan and formulate domestic medical strategies.
Medical Communication Department
The Medical Communication Department is responsible for responding to medical inquiries from inside and outside the company about the efficacy, safety, and quality of Astellas products. It is also accountable for gathering and analyzing medical inquiries from healthcare professionals and patients, identifying medical needs and relevant scientific information/medical insights, and sharing these with relevant functions at Astellas.
HEOR Department
The HEOR Department is responsible for planning and conducting non-interventional real-world studies including patient surveys, database studies, and the construction of a health economic analysis model.
Operational Excellence Department
The Operational Excellence Department is responsible for the establishment, control, and management of strategies, processes, and governance to support medical activities. It also conducts various types of research including post-marketing surveillance, non-interventional studies, joint research, and database studies.
