Christine Spiteri, Editor, Pharma In Focus interviewed Dr Glenn Carter, Managing Director HPG.
Here’s the transcript…
Companies will be looking to significantly expand their Real World Evidence (RWE) capabilities, opening up a host of new job opportunities and new careers as they build dedicated teams around the speciality, according to a top Australian recruitment specialist.
HPG Managing Director, Dr Glenn Carter, predicts expertise in RWE will become the number one competitive advantage for companies, which will trigger growth in new teams comprised of RWE leaders, analysts, statisticians, epidemiologists, artificial intelligence experts, communications specialists and more.
"Why? Because we're seeing an exponential awareness of the commercial value that RWE can deliver," he said.
"The data is now available to an extent that it hasn't been in the past and advances in computing power, analytics and AI mean that insights can be quickly derived from complex and diverse datasets.
"At the same time, companies are adapting their business models from mass engagement to micro-targeting with personalised messaging. And it's the RWE that is providing the insights that are incorporated into these messages."
Carter, a former medical director who founded HPG 27 years ago, said currently in Australia companies have a small number of employees focused on RWE who are managing exploratory projects but this will accelerate quickly.
He predicts RWE will increasingly be used to support pricing negotiations prior to and post launch, especially when reimbursement levels are tied to the real world performance of a drug or device.
In addition, he said the analysis of real-world outcomes across different patient demographics, disease states and treatment pathways will allow marketing to develop segmented and personalised messaging that can then be used by sales teams and field medical to enhance engagement and influence.
As patients and patient advocacy groups become increasingly knowledgeable about RWE, they too will be seeking tailored company responses that go beyond the data from tightly controlled clinical trials, especially in the new era of personalised medicine.
RWE will also help identify new indications for existing drugs. Increasingly, regulatory agencies are already recognising the value of RWE.
"My prediction is that pharmaceutical and medical device companies will be investing in their RWE capabilities. We'll be seeing larger and more specialised teams in the near future as RWE expertise becomes the new competitive advantage," he said.
Carter told Pharma in Focus that HPG is already seeing an increase in the number of RWE jobs and many companies are discussing their RWE capabilities as part of their strategic planning. His prediction for 2025 is that it will become a hot area for new jobs and careers.
"In the near future these teams will grow both in number and in capability," he said.
By Christine Spiteri