Job Description

Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) exchange medical and scientific information with external researchers and medical experts based on the latest medical and scientific knowledge in their respective disease areas, and use the information gained to contribute to improving the quality of medical care and maximizing patient benefits. Distinguished from sales departments, at Astellas, they belong to the MSL Department of the Medical Affairs (MA) Headquarters and are responsible for areas important to medical strategy.

Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) Main Duties

Astellas Definition of Medical Insight

Medical Insight is a new understanding based on integrating and evaluating the knowledge gained from data and information provided by external sources on medical topics relevant to Astellas.
It is reflected in Astellas' Medical Strategy and leads to Astellas' actions at the right time and place.

What is
Medical Affairs (MA)

MA Department, to which MSLs belong, plans and promotes post-launch pharmaceutical surveys and studies, supports clinical research, and provides HCPs and patients with accurate, scientific information on safety and efficacy.
Since the product information obtained from clinical trials is limited, we accumulate medical and scientific information that is still lacking in actual clinical practis, and develop products that can be used safely by many patients.

Cooperation with Internal
and External Parties

MA, as members of the Medical Team, cooperate with various internal and external professionals to enhance the product value of pharmaceutical products in Japan.
As experts in their respective disease areas, MSLs exchange scientific information on an equal footing with external medical experts and researchers on a daily basis, building relationships of trust.

MA consists of five departments: “Medical Oncology“, “Medical Specialty”, “Medical Communication Department”, “Operational Excellence” and “HEOR”, which work together globally according to their respective functions and roles.

Introduction of
MA Departments

Medical Science Liaison

As experts in their respective disease areas, MSLs build strong relationships of trust with external medical and scientific experts. They exchange information based on the latest medical and scientific knowledge, identify unmet medical needs, clinical questions, and medical insights in clinical practice, and collect and analyze this information to improve the quality and execution of medical strategies that promote product development. The information obtained is shared with the Research and Development Division and other departments within the company, contributing to the strategic planning of each department, and externally, contributing to raising awareness of diseases, diagnosis, treatment, etc. through the planning and creation of symposiums, etc.

Description of Other Departments

Medical Oncology, Medical Specialty
Contribute to plan global medical strategies, as well as plan domestic medical strategies.

Medical Communication
Responding to internal and external inquiries regarding the efficacy, safety, and quality of Astellas products, consolidating inquiries from doctors and patients to understand medical needs and provide related scientific information and insights within the company.

Operational Ecxcellence
Building, managing and operating strategies, processes and governance that support medical activities, and conducting various types of trials such as post-marketing surveillance, non-interventional trials, collaborative research and database research.

HEOR
Planning and conducting non-interventional real-world studies including patient surveys, database studies, and the construction of a health economic analysis model.