MSL's are overpaid and unnecessary

Discussion in 'MSL Board' started by Anonymous, Feb 23, 2006 at 8:10 PM.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Re: MSL\'s are overpaid and unnecessary


    You are right. I was an MSL for Upjohn and Pharmacia for many years. It WAS the best field job bar none. Now...the field segment of Pharma is handcuffed. It's tough to do business and enjoy it with your hands tied behind you back.

    Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The job is still good, just need to be more careful.

    Beats having to work in "pods", with other sample droppers, playing pretend.

    Repbots, time to wake up. You are USELESS!!!
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I think what I'd like about being a MSL over a rep. is not having to sample drop and less time spent on lunches where physician don't show, and more time educating. Are physicians more open to going to medical education events (dinners) with MSL than the sales rep.?

    I'd like to spend more time educating than kissing butt and working on relationships which is what seems to work with reps. Do many physicians respect the MSL role and offer appointment times?

    I know most companies require the MSL to be a MD, PhD, or PharmD, but do some still except advanced level practioners, PA or NP, with a graduate degree at masters level, MPH or MMS?
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I like having a chauffeur, it sure beats a company car.
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Let this thread die already!
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The days of Sales People are numbered. Companies are all expanding MSLs and firing sales people
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Thats maybe true. but the FDA should restrict the MSLs role to only on label discussion because the MSLs are merely an extension of the sales force in many companies.
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    At least I can still meet with the MD anywhere and anytime, to discuss anything....did today for an hour while you picking up the snack tray and having the AA sign for the samples. I was the reason the doctor could not see you today....in fact he almost let me sign for the samples myself...joked he was going to sign Elmer Fudd on the line today. Thanks for chips a dip girls and boys. By the way, I bet you will look good in Home Depot orange, your next job.
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Wow I can only imagine what specialty you were calling if the physician was signing for samples! What, out of curiosity, therapeutic area and drug to you “support”? I’m guessing something very basic. I’ve been an oncology rep for 12 years and have better access to 99% of the thought leaders at key academic institutions than any MSL I’ve ever worked with, and most of the time they need us reps to get them in and help establish the relationship. Not to mention that unless they worked in a cancer center they know very little about cancer therapies other than classes of each, and we end up having to show them the ropes…
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Sorry to be so grumpy, but whether MSLs or plain reps, all are going to disappear.
    With tightening regulation, and a discrepancy between "what do you earn?" and "what do you make?", with many other sales channels, models, and points of call, and not to forget, with the great public image the rep (I admit, this goes less for the MSL) has, the industry will change. Actually, it already does.

    So keep on squabbling about who is best: it is not your call. The only thing you can do is what is possible now and what you are allowed to. If the rules or the weather change, so does your life. Nobody is irreplaceable, or essential.
    And to the OP: so tell me, how are you going to defend paying a rep hanging around for 2-3 hrs trying to speak a doc for 2 mins on a $100.000? That is why they have call centers making those appointments for you nowadays, dickhead.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The only thing more worthless than a rep is a black rep.
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Well said.

    And how dare you make sense. This is CP!! LOL
     
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    MSLs are useful at a certain stage of a product lifecycle. I used to manage a small team in a post launch when we had lots of off-label enquiries and docs wanting to do their own bits of research. Everyone had a great time and the reps were very happy that someone else was taking care of these time consuming calls whle they were busy with establishing the drug in its indication. However I moved on and my successor has 'built' a huge team of MSLs - more now than reps!- with specific roles and layers of management. The drug has extended its label and these MSL are creating 'programmes of education' which they have to persuade docs to attend cos its not news anymore. Sound familiar? So yes, MSLs can be great contributors in the right situation but creating these armies will just lead to the authorities seeing them as super-reps and more legislation will follow and a valuable resource will be lost.
    BTW this nonsense about peer-to-peer relations - if you are worthy of respect, know your stuff, bring stuff to the table that genuinely interests your customer and meets THEIR needs and not just yours - you will get all the time in the world. If you are badly informed, 'on a mission' or assuming that letters after your name makes you special - forget it. Docs and KOLs in particular soon see through the smokescreen and deal with the folks they value
     
  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The original poster is half right.... MSL's and sales reps are not necessarily both necessary. But he really should be careful what he wishes for. Any MSL wcan do a sales reps job, but the vast majority of sales reps are not willing to go get a Ph.D/M.D. or even take the time to purchase a Pharm.D from an online gumball machine.

    Sooooooo.... more likely path for the industry is to have the MSL folks take over the rep jobs and get the benefits of both rather than maintain a sales rep with no science grad degree.
     
  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    BEST LINE EVAH!!!!!!!!!!!!