Rare Disease Account Specialist – (RDAS) Alexander Disease / Zilganersen

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

166d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Rare Disease Account Specialist (RDAS) is a field-based role responsible for building and managing long-term relationships with physicians, Centers of Excellence (COEs), and other customers within their assigned territory. This hybrid role involves providing access/reimbursement support, product/disease education, key account management, and product logistics. The specialist will also deliver key promotional messages to advocate for patients with Alexander disease (AxD). They will represent the organization within the AxD community, educating external Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) about the approved indication and clinical information for zilganersen, once FDA approved. The role also supports healthcare provider offices with compliant access and reimbursement assistance. The Account Specialist will possess a deep understanding of the healthcare market and the AxD community in their territory, including key customers and accounts treating AxD (primarily pediatric neurologists and neurologists). This involves understanding the unique objectives and needs of each customer/account to improve patient outcomes. The specialist will build, maintain, and leverage networks and relationships in the local healthcare system to develop and execute effective business plans to meet customer and Ionis goals. They will serve as a cross-functional teammate, collaborating with a diverse team and engaging effectively and compliantly across therapeutic field teams to bring a novel treatment to people suffering from AxD, Ionis’ first wholly owned neurology product launch. All statements regarding the roles and responsibilities are dependent upon zilganersen approval.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree with at least 12 years of related experience
At least 4+ years of experience in Pharma sales or Field Reimbursement and/or access roles across the following competencies: Neurology or Rare diseases and product launches, COE, HCP and IDN engagement, Cross-functional field team coordination, Successful launch experience, Customer reimbursement and drug access education and support.
Extensive comprehension of the healthcare ecosystem including market access landscape and payer reimbursement policies for rare disease products.
Extensive knowledge of key Centers of Excellence and ability to effectively navigate complex accounts with demonstrated success.
Analytical skills to build product knowledge competency in pharmaceuticals, competitor products, and relevant disease states.
Self-driven with the ability to solve a wide array of customer challenges with integrity and in a compliant manner.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Proven track record for consistently and compliantly meeting or exceeding financial and/or other quantitative and qualitative targets.
Solid understanding of and adherence to external laws, codes, and company policies that apply to the healthcare industry and proper interaction with healthcare professionals.
Travel ~50% given territory geography (1. West/2. North-East / 3. South-Central).

Nice To Haves

Master’s and/or advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, PhD, PharmD) preferred with at least 8 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Provides support for any reimbursement questions that may arise from COEs (reimbursement support for other injection sites may be covered ad-hoc).
Provides approximately 20% effort in proactive account management and ad-hoc support to key stakeholders (within COEs, but may also include injection sites ad-hoc).
Increases awareness of AxD and promotes on-label clinical data information to drive demand.
Engages with key accounts/centers of excellence and collaborates with the field team to enhance HCP awareness, support, and overall experience.
Tracks sales performance and gathers market insights to improve patient outcomes.
Manages COE accounts and logistics for Intrathecal administration.
Educates HCPs, COEs, and office staff about zilganersen, its brand messages, efficacy, and safety using approved marketing materials and verbiage, with a focus on appropriate patient identification for possible treatment.
Educates HCPs and office staff on the zilganersen access process (including high-level steps, payer-specific coverage policies, typical challenges faced, etc.).
Uses patient hub/specialty pharmacy data to provide patient access status updates to customers to ensure appropriate patients get treatment.
Raises AxD disease state awareness, educates on patient need, and instills HCP urgency to act and appropriately refer/treat AxD.
Creates a positive prescribing and access support experience for HCPs and accounts.
Educates on Ionis patient services offerings to encourage customer/patient participation and appropriate program utilization.
Participates in conferences, congresses, and other scientific meetings to educate HCPs on AxD disease state and treatment.
Gathers insights to profile accounts and provide feedback to leadership and marketing to inform zilganersen sales & marketing strategy.
Understands local market dynamics, including all potential drivers/barriers for AxD patients and/or accounts.
Identifies, validates, and documents potential HCPs treating AxD patients to inform commercial strategy.
Executes brand strategic plans by developing and executing customer (and account) focused territory strategic plans to maximize business/patient opportunities and customer satisfaction.
Builds insight-driven focused tactics by understanding brand requirements & anticipating the current and future needs of key customers/accounts.
Adjusts strategies to meet business goals in assigned territory through territory strategic insight.
Develops strategic account plans in conjunction with the field team and brand leadership to appropriately engage accounts based on customer needs and brand strategic objectives.
Builds Ionis champions.
Before launch only: Creates a comprehensive launch day engagement plan with specific strategies and activities.
Before launch only: Schedules customer meetings for post-launch and visits accounts based on the territory plan.
Participates in field meetings and training programs to understand zilganersen and brand messaging strategy, AxD disease state, and customer engagement tactics to effectively engage customers.
Understands the patient journey and applies those learnings to customer/account strategy.
Strengthens knowledge of evolving payer landscape and policies as relates to HCP/office and ultimately patient needs.
Certifies on approved label, compliance training, and all applicable customer engagement policies.
Learns and adheres to the company's mission and vision, policies, and procedures, including the Ionis Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
Collaborates effectively and compliantly with other Account Specialists and other field teams (e.g., Patient Education Managers, Field Medical Directors) in pursuit of customer/account success.
Shares learnings from customer engagement activities with other field team members and leadership (e.g., Brand Lead, marketing, field ops, analytics, market access) as appropriate.
Leverages all available platforms and technology to engage customers through multiple channels and enhance their overall experience.
Partners on accounts with patients who are seen by multiple specialties in multiple geographies.
Incentive Compensation will be National target for RDAS team (3) to achieve together with flexibility across territories and geographies to engage HCPs and COEs where necessary.