Investing in Medical Affairs

Why Phase 2 Biotechs Should Consider Medical Affairs Earlier

Many companies delay investing in Medical Affairs until launch is on the horizon. Yet bringing that perspective in during Phase 2 can create meaningful advantages. This is often when the scientific narrative begins to take shape, the target patient population becomes clearer, and relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) start to develop. At the same time, important questions around evidence generation, differentiation, and future positioning begin to emerge. Medical Affairs helps guide these discussions, ensuring that clinical and commercial teams are aligned around a credible scientific strategy.

Delaying that work can make later stages more challenging. KOL relationships require time to build, publication plans are most effective when developed early, and congress activities and advisory boards often need substantial lead time. By Phase 3, organizations that postponed these efforts may find themselves trying to close gaps that competitors addressed much earlier.

Medical Affairs also serves as a bridge between clinical development and commercial planning. It helps ensure data are communicated appropriately, evidence-generation activities support long-term objectives, and the scientific narrative is established before external stakeholders begin shaping perceptions. Importantly, this does not require building a full Medical Affairs organization. A seasoned fractional or interim leader can establish an MSL strategy, oversee publication planning, initiate KOL engagement, and maintain consistency in the scientific story as it reaches regulators, payers, investors, and the broader

medical community.

The greatest risk is often postponement. Companies that wait until Phase 3 frequently find themselves building relationships under pressure, finalizing publications against compressed timelines, and reacting to a narrative they had little role in creating. Those that engage experienced Medical Affairs leadership earlier gain the benefit of strategic groundwork that compounds over time. The value comes not from the size of the function, but from starting before the opportunity narrows.

For Phase 2 biotechs, early Medical Affairs investment can make the path to launch more deliberate, coordinated, and ultimately more supportive of long-term growth and commercial success.