In the webcast "Medical Affairs Engagement for Digital Interventions: Industry Perspectives and Lessons Learned" hosted By SSI Strategy & Digital Therapeutics Alliance, Rachel Killian moderated a discussion between Andy Molnar (CEO, Digital Therapeutics Alliance), Everett Crosland (CCO, Cognito Therapeutics), Owen McCarthy (President, MedRhythms), Sharief Taraman (CEO, Cognoa), and John Wagner (CMO, Koneksa Health).

The core emphasis was on initiating medical affairs activities from day zero, even if starting with basic, streamlined efforts. As the company progresses through clinical and commercial stages, medical affairs should evolve and scale activities in parallel. Maintaining cross-functional coordination with product development, market access, health economics and other teams is crucial to avoid silos and drive organizational alignment.

Throughout this journey, medical affairs plays a pivotal role in engaging key stakeholders like KOLs, patient groups, and payers. This engagement helps shape product positioning, generate real-world evidence, and facilitate market acceptance. Insights were shared on strategically building and integrating medical affairs as an adaptive, ongoing process.

Ultimately, the goal is to leverage medical affairs to bridge the gap between clinical data and commercial success for digital interventions and therapeutics.