HIRC's Medical Science Liaison Performance report benchmarks 40+ leading pharmaceutical medical science liaison (MSL) teams based on PBM and commercial health plan medical and pharmacy directors' evaluation of MSL skills and overall quality. The full report addresses the following questions:

• Which very large, large, and mid-size firms rank highest in medical science liaison presence and quality?
• How do manufacturers benchmark across ten core and consultative competencies?
• Which core and consultative skills are most important for MSLs to demonstrate? What opportunities exist for improvement?
• How do pharmaceutical firms perform within each managed markets segment?

Key Finding: The best medical science liaisons excel in both core and consultative skills. Leading MSLs are described as ethical, candid, and truthful, are true experts in drug therapies, and demonstrate an understanding of customer needs and priorities.

Novo Nordisk and Johnson & Johnson HCS Among Leaders in MSL Presence and Quality. Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson HCS, and Novartis earn the highest overall MSL presence and quality scores across all managed markets panels. Novartis Oncology, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bristol-Myers Squibb lead the large manufacturer segment, and Genzyme, Regeneron, and Sunovion lead among mid-size firms.

HIRC calculated manufacturers' overall MSL managed markets score based upon customer evaluations of MSLs in the two key categories below. The full report provides scores in overall presence and quality for the complete listing of 40+ firms.

• Presence: Able to rate the medical science liaison
• Quality: Overall quality of the medical science liaison

The Best MSL Teams Excel in Both Core and Consultative Skills. In addition to overall presence and quality, HIRC examined medical science liaison performance across ten critical core and consultative skills. On average, MSLs perform well in core competencies such as being ethical, candid and truthful, and true experts in respective drug therapies. However, the highest ranked MSLs set themselves apart by also performing well in the consultative scores that managed markets customers view as most important, such as demonstrating an understanding of their priorities & needs.

MSL teams from Merck, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk consistently lead in performance across the most important core and consultative skills to managed markets customers. The full report details medical science liaison performance for 40+ pharmaceutical manufacturers across ten core and consultative skills. Additionally, benchmark data is segmented by the following:

• Commercial Health Plan Pharmacy Directors
• Commercial Health Plan Medical Directors
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Executives

Research Methodology and Report Availability. In December-January, HIRC surveyed 85 key decision-makers from leading commercial health plans and pharmacy benefit managers. Online surveys and follow-up telephone interviews were used to gather information. The Medical Science Liaison Performance report is part of the Best Programs and Best People Service, and is now available to subscribers at www.hirc.com.