Medical Science Liaison, Pacific Southwest (Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii)

Who We Are

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company developing real solutions to treat genetically driven diseases. With a focus on rational drug discovery and development, we are leveraging validated biology to advance precision therapies designed to address the true underlying drivers of disease and provide real hope for patients. Cogent’s lead therapeutic candidate, bezuclastinib (CGT9486), is a precision kinase inhibitor designed to selectively and potently inhibit the KIT D816V mutation. This mutation is responsible for driving a rare and serious condition called Systemic Mastocytosis (SM), which can severely impact many different tissues and organs in the body. We are also studying CGT9486 to treat advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), which have a strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. We are currently enrolling two Phase 2 clinical trials for patients with SM and a global Phase 3 trial for GIST patients.

Our Team

https://cogent.culturehq.com

The Medical Science Liaison role is focused on our lead clinical development program, bezuclastinib.  The primary specialties for outreach and engagement include oncology (solid tumors/sarcoma; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, GIST), hematology/oncology (across the spectrum of NonAdvanced Systemic Mastocytosis and Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis), and allergy and immunology (NonAdvanced Systemic Mastocytosis), in the assigned territory. 

In the peri-product-launch period, select MSL/Sr MSL team members will partner with a cross-functional team to develop strategic, scientifically accurate, and balanced value and evidence plans that will be leveraged for scientific discourse in the field with HCPs and may also expand to support of interactions with payer audiences in collaboration with the commercial team. Another important aspect of this role is to partner with team members responsible for Patient Advocacy to ensure the patient’s perspective is appropriately and adequately included in scientific communications to underscore patient goals and objectives that aims to advance care across the healthcare spectrum and, ultimately, to improve health outcomes.  Patient-centricity is a core tenet of Cogent’s approach with all stakeholders, both internal and external.

The successful MSL/Sr MSL candidate is someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about making an impact on the lives of patients with unmet medical needs.  This is an amazing time to join Cogent as we move towards the potential commercialization of bezuclastinib.  Reporting to the Area Director, US Field Medical Affairs, who will have a direct reporting line to the SVP Medical Affairs/Chief Patient Officer and collaborative engagement with the Medical Affairs and Patient Advocac team members, this role will be on the forefront of educational awareness and building a collaborative and supportive network of HCP-specialists engaged with Cogent and aligned with our core objectives and strategic priorities.   

• Manage the assigned territory as a scientific and medical expert in the areas of GIST and Systemic Mastocytosis. 
• Support the strategic priorities and imperatives established in collaboration with the cross-functional Medical Affairs and Patient Advocacy team and based on the Cogent’s corporate goals in support of on-going and emerging clinical development programs and, ultimately, commercially available therapeutics.
• Develop and implement a territory strategy and is accountable to engage in compliant, accurate, and data-driven scientific exchange about our clinical development programs in the HCP-specialist areas relevant to the bezuclastinib program and as described above.    
• Lead external communication with a range of thought leaders, subject matter experts, and other HCPs to obtain important insights about current practice, treatment landscape, emerging clinical and scientific data, and competitive intelligence.
• Cultivate a network of experts for Cogent Biosciences disease areas of focus and establish thought leader development plans while ensuring broad awareness of the company and the bezuclastinib program within the HCP-specialist community in the assigned territory. 
• Assist with the facilitation of investigator-initiated research concepts identified through field engagement with relevant researchers in areas of interest aligned with input from the Bezuclastinib Strategy Team and leadership. 
• Remain current on training and adhere to corporate and healthcare compliance, including those related to clinical trials, scientific interactions with internal and external groups, and responses to unsolicited requests for medical information
• Establish and implement an educational outreach strategy that aims to reach the broadest audience of relevant HCPs that have a particular interest in SM or GIST, whether it be research-related or as a treater of affected patients.  This includes tactical engagement through thoughtful planning of disease and product education initiatives such as area and/or regional scientific advisory board (SAB) meetings, lunch-and-learns, roundtables, grand rounds, and encore data presentations at regional conferences. 
• Field team members will collaborate with the broader Medical Affairs and Patient Advocacy team to support relevant international and national scientific congresses, as needed, to include staffing the Medical Affairs/Medical Information booth, coverage of scientific sessions, coordination of KOL and other HCP meetings (1:1 meetings, meetings with Cogent leadership, meetings in support of clinical development team, etc.), gathering/appropriately communicating competitive intelligence, support of international/national SAB meetings, etc. 
• With regards to competitive intelligence within the respective territory, the MSL/Sr MSL will keep a finger on the pulse of the medical community and report key insights and intelligence from the competitive market landscape in the field and collaborate with counterparts across the United States and abroad to identify and communicate trends and key topics.  
• Assist and, at times, lead the scientific onboarding and training of new team members within the Medical Affairs team and cross-functionally as warranted.
• Foster Cogent’s positive, innovative, and collaborative culture
• Be prepared to travel primarily with the territory assigned (typically up to 80%)

• Advanced medical/science degree required (Master’s and/or Doctorate)
• Medical professional credentials preferred (MD, DO, PhD, DNP, PharmD, other)
• 7+ years of experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry in Medical Affairs with early (pre-commercial) experience in partnering with clinical development teams on patient recruitment initiatives and clinical site identification
• 3+ years of either rare disease or oncology experience strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in executing compliant collaborations with multi-disciplinary teams including, but not limited to, Clinical Development and Commercial.
• Experience in engaging with and education of managed care (opportunistic)
• Contemporary and deep knowledge of compliance and regulatory rules, regulations, and best practices in the field as an MSL and/or Managed Care Liaison.
• Strong analytical skills, especially with regard to understanding and interpreting scientific and clinical research and literature, are essential
• Strong interpersonal, presentation and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment
• Creative problem-solving skills and positive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Demonstrated self-starter and team player with strong interpersonal skills
• Adept, nimble, energetic, and comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative environment
• Previous launch experience strongly preferred

Our Locations

Waltham, MA: Our Boston office includes an open office layout that has recently undergone a makeover designed for collaboration and giving our employees the best work place possible. Free access is provided for both on-site parking and gym facilities in the building.

Boulder, CO: We have just moved into our new state-of-the art Research Facility in the fast-growing biopharmaceutical hub in the greater Denver/Boulder corridor.  Our CEO is based full-time in this location and we are proud to call this the home of Cogent’s discovery research organization.

Our Offer To You

To attract the very best talent, we offer a generous benefits package that includes competitive pay, performance-based bonus, stock options, insurance coverage (health, dental, life, and disability), competitive time-off, a 401(k) plan, and commuter/parking benefits.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.