Medical/clinical science liaisons represent an essential link between manufacturers and customers by objectively communicating complex scientific information to demonstrate product value. HIRC's report, Best in Class Medical/Clinical Science Liaison Customer Insights, provides nominations of the best medical/clinical science liaisons, as well as the descriptive factors that operationally define the best-in-class. The report addresses the following questions:

• Which very large, large and mid-size firms' medical/clinical science liaisons receive the most best-in-class nominations?
• Which firms lead in best medical/clinical science liaison nominations across health plan pharmacy directors, health plan medical directors, and pharmacy benefit manager executives?
• Which medical/clinical science liaison attributes operationally define the best-in-class?

Key Finding: Panelists report high importance of (1) product knowledge, (2) knowledge of pipeline, and (3) knowledge of customer across best-in-class MCSL nominations in 2021.

Medical/Clinical Science Liaisons from Novo Nordisk and Pfizer are Most Frequently Nominated as Best-in-Class. HIRC queried 86 commercial health plan and pharmacy benefit manager key decision-makers to learn which pharmaceutical firms' medical/clinical science liaisons are best-in-class. Novo Nordisk and Pfizer lead with the most best-in-class nominations from managed markets customers, followed by Vertex.

The full report provides a complete listing of best MCSL nominations as well as the rationale behind the nominations.

Five Factor Categories Operationally Define Best-in-Class Medical/Clinical Science Liaisons. Managed markets customers were asked to explain their rationale for best medical/clinical science liaison nominations. Analyses reveal that their evaluations fall within five key descriptive factor categories: (1) Knowledge, (2) Relationship Management, (3) Role Expectation, (4) Interpersonal & Social Skills, and (5) General Impressions.

The best medical/clinical scientific liaisons are often described as (1) demonstrating deep product knowledge, (2) demonstrating knowledge of pipeline/emerging drug therapies, and (3) demonstrating knowledge of customers' business model, strategic imperatives, and operational needs.

Research Methodology and Report Availability. In December 2020 and January 2021, HIRC surveyed 86 key decision-makers from commercial health plans and pharmacy benefit managers. Online surveys and follow-up telephone interviews were used to gather information. The complete report, Best in Class Medical/Clinical Science Liaison Customer Insights, is available now to HIRC’s Best Programs and Best People subscribers at www.hirc.com.