Finalist
Revolutionising Medical Affairs Training for Launch Excellence
Summary of work
Prognosis for patients with lung cancer remains poor, but the advent of targeted therapies has improved outcomes in advanced disease. Focus has now shifted to early-stage disease, with the goal of improving the chance of cure and reducing recurrence.
Unprecedented early data showing significantly improved outcomes in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer meant an urgent need to upskill internal medical teams, particularly medical science liaisons (MSLs), who play a key role in disseminating new data but had limited experience in this setting.
An agile training programme was required, with the goal of providing a holistic view of the clinical landscape and empowering clinically meaningful discussions to ensure the data were acted on quickly for maximal clinical impact at launch.
The encroaching pandemic required a revolution in our traditional training approach. A comprehensive programme was designed with a focus on immersive virtual content, active participation and self-directed, reflective learning.
Success of the programme is illustrated in post-training surveys and healthcare professional (HCP) feedback, with increased engagement with new stakeholders, greater external data awareness and 100% HCP commitment to clinical change following an MSL visit.
Training strategies incorporating interactive content, active participation and reflection are now considered standard across oncology medical affairs.
Judges’ comments
This is a strong, multidimensional, training programme. It was a well planned and executed multichannel MSL training program, that clearly demonstrated customer impact. It was well-written and compelling.
