Let’s explore the distinct types of writing in this niche, then identify the challenges you must overcome to succeed as a writer in this rapidly expanding industry.
If you’re a veteran medical writer, you already have a solid understanding of these broad types of medical writing:
Whether you write for a pharmaceutical company, medical device company, or some other type of organization, pharmaceutical content can fall into several of the above categories.
Writers for the pharmaceutical industry are likely to do one (or more) of the following types of writing, which are further described in The Writing Cooperative’s “Writing for the Pharmaceutical Industry”:
The pharmaceutical field is increasingly fast‑paced. From novel drugs to the development of generic specialty medications, the rapid changes can feel overwhelming for medical writers who must keep up with changing trends and regulations.
Here are some of the greatest challenges of crafting documents for this industry:
The baseline experience of regulatory writers is uneven or absent due to the lack of formal, standardized training in many organizations. Regulatory writer training is necessary, but it’s difficult to create because it consists of so many components, including hands‑on education. Extensive training also takes place over multiple years.
Writers for the pharmaceutical industry—especially those involved in regulatory document creation—should have the following:
AMWA’s training roadmap for regulatory writers offers a helpful outline of the regulatory topics that are most important and demonstrates how certain topics and skills build on the preceding ones.
Addressing this challenge requires a deep commitment to continued learning. In Managed Care Executive’s January article “Top Issues Facing Pharma in 2020,” author Frieda Wiley, PharmD, reviewed several hot-button topics in the pharmaceutical industry’s “era of exponential change.”
In this industry, you might write about a variety of therapeutic categories with new products every year. You could find yourself creating documents covering everything from gene therapy to specialty drugs for rare diseases and disorders. You should also be prepared for last‑minute document revisions due to late‑breaking study results or urgent regulatory changes.
Writing for the pharmaceutical industry is not for everyone. Writers must be fastidious and undistracted—even when the topics are highly technical or dry.
The pharmaceutical industry can be challenging even for experienced medical writers. The key is to commit to learning, maintain unwavering attention to detail, and determine a niche that maximizes your background and skills.