Medical Advisor -Rare Disease - #17228

JOB TITLE

Rare Disease Medical Advisor

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 begin to build our position as a Rare Disease leader, we seek a Rare Disease Medical Advisor to join our Medical Affairs team in (KSA Riyadh).

As a Medical Advisor – 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 Advisor – 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 GCC Medical Manager for Rare Disease.

The Medical Advisor will provide detailed knowledge of therapeutic area and product, as well as technical and promotional standards expertise for the strategic and operational development, promotion, and commercialisation of AstraZeneca products within a therapeutic team of commercially focused professionals. The role interprets and adds value to scientific information by generating commercially relevant outputs which are promotionally defensible and tailored to the needs of customers. It brings a key contribution to the scientific and ethical image of the company and provides competitive advantage through scientific servicing that outstands in quality that of competitors, in a customer-service directed way.

What you’ll do

Provides external (health care professionals) and internal (Sales, Marketing, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory etc.) customers with state-of-the art, balanced, scientific information on rare disease products, their competitors and related disease areas:

• Builds and maintains visibility and excellent long-term professional relationships with opinion leaders in order to increase scientific knowledge, customer insight and competitive intelligence, thereby optimising the current and future market potential of the rare disease product portfolio (appropriate use in various pathologies, efficacy and tolerability data in specific indications, available clinical trial data, etc.)

• Provides Medical Information with updated, standardized, ready to use, replies to frequently asked questions

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

• 75% of time in field engaging HCPs and external stakeholders across territory

• Proactively identify HCPs with high levels of scientific expertise in local treatment practice to collaborate on specific medico marketing activities

• Development and implementation of KEE engagement plan in collaboration with TA medical manager and TA lead. Review with the line manager this plan every quarter.

• Develop own scientific knowledge for discussion on all aspects of the data to be shared with KEE in a scientific, objective, and balanced way through 1:1 discussion. Prepare for such interactions with peer group discussions. Develop database of Key opinion leaders and provide recommendations for advisory board participation

• “to proactively provide scientific updates and information to KEEs and identify the relevance of the data to the scientific community and gathering Insights from market

• Contribute in developing study concepts, identify new opportunities and evidence gaps, and work closely with investigators to generate data to inform clinical practice

Build and maintain trust‐based relationships with external stakeholders:

• Build AZ relationship with key external stakeholders (e.g. patient advocacy groups, key medical organizations, hospital pharmacy). Find opportunities to collaborate with such external stakeholders. Provide scientific support in CME events and through appropriate medical sponsorships/ partnership.

• Act as scientific expert in the disease area(s) by presenting therapeutic updates to external stakeholders.

Develop or initiate scientific programs to explore unmet medical needs in priority disease area(s)

• Work with HCPs in scientific activities that help advance disease understanding such as:

• Identify and recommend OLs for Advisory Boards.

• Identify potential speakers and train speakers as appropriate.

• Interact in the field with the medical community in the context of various medical projects, such as clinical trials, , ESRs, scientific exchange meetings

• Discuss potential involvement in LCM such as ESR and RWEs

• Respond to unsolicited off label questions from KOLs

• Able to conduct professional discussions on clinical trials in terms of study design and feasibility

Act as scientific expert in priority disease area(s) 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 regular update on partnerships with HCPs, as speakers, or in the context of medical projects

• Initiate and conduct appropriate AZ staff training & development on information regarding current and emerging clinical data and emerging trends in clinical medicine and practice within TA

• Provide input for the development of company’s Medical and Brand plans

• To work with internal cross functional team on accelerating patient access to the relevant brand (formulary listing)

• Provide scientific support at AZ sponsored educational events

Continuously demonstrate development of scientific expertise in disease area(s) of company focus:

• Attend relevant scientific congresses and HCP meetings to gather new knowledge on AZ compounds, competitor information and therapeutic area

• Positive engagement and response to coaching and feedback received from TA lead.

• In daily work takes time to reflect on customer interactions and works on areas agreed with TA medical manager and TA Lead as priorities for development. Develop functional capability in the role

• Proactively demonstrate the AZ Values

• Identify areas for self‐development and discuss developmental needs with line manager using the 70‐20‐10 principle (experiential learning, coaching/networking/relationship‐based learning, and classroom training) Active participation in AZ training, projects, and meetings depending on development needs

Compliance with relevant company and industry code of Conduct and also to comply with local country codes

• Keep regular update and operate within the relevant Codes of Ethics, Ethical Interactions (EI), including GPEI and SOPs

• Be sure to understand AZ policies when engage to KOLs and external stakeholders

• Ensure that all conducted activities are done in accordance with local legislation and corporate standards.

• Timely report (as per respective procedures): health/environment/wellbeing related accidents; adverse events that you became aware about; change in status of your Conflict of Interest.

Essential for the role

• Scientific or medical background at university degree or equivalent level

• 4 years + of experience in pharmaceutical industry in medical department with strong performance record

• Rare Disease experience or ability to attain this knowledge rapidly

• Neurology & Oncology: experience in neurology and oncology field preferably in rare disease.

• Ability to seek and critically assess information, put it into context and evaluate its impact on the business

• Specific competencies in writing, editing, oral communication and information technology.

• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

• Working knowledge and understanding of relevant Legislation and Codes of Practice relating to promotional activities

• Medical integrity and ethical balance

• Bachelor’s Degree or working towards a professional qualification (MD / PHD)

• 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.

• High sense of urgency and commitment to excellence in the successful achievement of objectives.

• Excellent planning and organizational skills to demonstrate ability to work in a self-directed manner.

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?

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