Careers in industry

[LoneCoyote]

I have been thinking about all the possible career paths in pharmacy lately. I feel like I had a pretty good grasp on what you can do in retail, in clinical, and some of what you can go in government. But I am a bit in the dark about opportunities in industry aside from bench research. If you are not interested in bench research what are the options? Some of the stuff I have heard are drug rep, medical science liaison, regulatory affairs, drug information specialist. I know what a drug rep does but what do these other positions entail? And are there other things that you can do to? I'm curious to learn more. Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[LVPharm]

There are a couple more options: clinical research associate (CRA), and pharmacovigilance (epidemiology).

I think Medical Science Liaisons (MSL) are assigned to certain regions of the United States and exist to keep relationships with physicians and other healthcare decision makers (usually at academic medical institutions). You might even have to be involved in the coordination of phase IV drug trials. More than likely you would be giving presentations on the latest meds and clincal research to other healthcare professionals. Its a high travel (and perhaps high stress, high paying) job. You're like a "super drug rep".

Regulator affairs involves helping out in the development and filing of INDs and NDAs, and any other applications needed for drug research....and dealing with the FDA.

Drug information specialists answer questions submitted by phone or writing about any of the company's drug products. You have to be adept at searching the literature, and answering questions regarding adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, drug-disease contraindications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and dose modification.

Something you can do is peruse the different pharmaceutical companies' websites and check out their human resources sections, and read their job descriptions, and requirements.

 

[neonam11]

About the meidical liason, last quarter we had a UCSF alumnus as a guest speaker who talked about what her responsibilities at Astra-Zeneca. Basically what LV described is correct although I'm not sure if she was involved in clinical phase 4 post market studies. Basically, she was the middle-woman who tried to recruit the best and brightest scientists and MD's to gather their opinions on AZ's data. Her life is hectic since she travels alot and sometimes starts the day off at 4 AM. There are only a few position like hers available at AZ, and I'm sure it's the same at other big pharmas.

 

[LoneCoyote]

Thanks for the info guys, that's helpful

LV, can you elaborate a bit on the CRA and the pharmacovigilance? Does the CRA work on clinical trials? And is pharmacovigilance about monitoring adverse reactions and stuff like that?

I am going to go and surf some industry sites since I have nothing better to do at work....

 

[LVPharm]

CRA's design and iplement clinical research projects, evaluate and analyze the data gained from those projects, and do a great deal of travelling to field sites to supervise and coordinate those clinical studies. They seem to hire PharmDs and RNs for this.

Pharmacovigilence is that part of the company that's responsible for reviewing and following up on ADR reports sent in from various clinical sites (post-market surveilance). At Wyeth, back during the Fen Phen fiasco, it was these guys that supposedly knew about reports of "pulmonary hypertension" and valve damage, and failed to act upon it. It's a high stress job, knowing you've got responsibility to both the patients on your drugs, and to the company. The FDA also has a whole department staffed with PharmDs and PhD epidemiologists whose job is to follow up on these reports....ultimately it is their findings that may result in a company being asked to pull a multimillion dollar drug product from the market. They had a news story on this overworked and understaffed department and showed desks piled high with ADRs yet to be reviewed by the FDA's meager staff.

 

[MNnaloxone]

I just finished a rotation at Upsher-Smith where my preceptors were, in essence, CRAs as LVPharm described.

From what I could gather (even with all the paperwork I filled out, I still was kept in the dark-I can understand), LV hit the nail on the head. A lot of the projects I did consisted of my preceptor telling me to download the NDA package from the FDA's website, and summarize the clinical trials that the innovator performed to gain approval. This was done because, "We have a like product, and we want to see what we have to do to get the FDA to approve our new product." In addition, I wrote a few study protocols for establishing bioequiv for ANDAs. And collected studies on off-label uses for products supposedly in development at USL (new indication=new market).

When I asked about job opportunities, I was told to complete a residency, and then come back for a year of fellowship at USL. That was the quickest way to get that type of position (at least at that company). PharmDs were far and away the preferred degree in the company.