Webinar Addresses Key Drivers for Medical Science Liaison Success in 2010

Cutting Edge Information Offers Complimentary Recording of Event on Website


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwire - February 4, 2010) - As more and more doctors shut their doors to pharmaceutical sales reps, Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) have stepped into the breach.

MSLs, who are usually MDs or PhDs, spend nearly three quarters of their time on either education or research -- and they are equipped to engage physicians on critical scientific and clinical issues. Drug companies embrace this level of physician contact, and it shows: average MSL team budgets have grown to more than $4 million in the US ($3 million outside the US).

"The industry's reliance on the scientific and strategic value of MSLs has increased tremendously in recent years," said Yanis Saradjian, Director of Consulting at Cutting Edge Information (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com).

Mr. Saradjian, who leads Cutting Edge Information's MSL Assessment practice, recently provided a breakdown of the current state of MSL programs in a 45-minute presentation titled "Take Your MSL Program to New Heights: Best Practices & Strategies for Success."

"The drug industry is on the verge of a major paradigm shift," said Mr. Saradjian, "in which the strategic importance of MSL teams will vault ahead of the traditional sales force as the dominant channel through which companies interface with physicians."

Mr. Saradjian showed attendees how to measure the following components of their MSL programs:

--  Program Structures, Budgets and Staffing
--  MSL Responsibilities & Activity Metrics
--  KOL Relationships & Selection Criteria
--  MSL Qualifications and Performance Measurement

"The event generated our largest turnout so far and a lot of interest," said Mr. Saradjian. "There has never been a better time to equip organizations with appropriate parameters to measure results and improve the management and deployment of MSL teams."

An archived version of the webinar is available to view here: http://tinyurl.com/yjmubrj

Cutting Edge Information has developed its MSL Program Assessment service based on years of research and expertise, all geared to assist MSL Program managers as they build up their operations. To learn more about this service, visit the website at http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/consulting/msl-assessment.php

Contact Information: CONTACT: Stephanie Swanson (919) 433-0212