Ayaz Sayeed
Medical Strategist | Oncology
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Senior-level medical strategist with 15+ years of experience spanning oncology, medical communications, and pharmaceutical consulting. Proven success in building high-performing teams, launching innovative brands, and translating complex science into clear strategic narratives. Experienced in all stages of product life cycle with deep expertise in omnichannel HCP and patient engagement.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
13
13
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
SVP, Medical Director
Publicis Health
01.2023 - Current
- 2Lead medical strategy across the entire Pfizer Oncology portfolio through Publicis CoLab initiative
- Serve as lead strategist for genitourinary (GU) oncology brands, overseeing end-to-end support from concept to tactical execution
- Act as senior client-facing medical lead, partnering across cross-functional teams to ensure scientific integrity and strategic alignment
- Provide mentorship and oversight to junior medical staff, fostering professional growth and team cohesion
- Spearheaded the launch of the Oncology Academy, an internal educational platform designed to upskill all agency team members in oncology science and strategy
- Supported 2 high-impact brand launches and 3 disease awareness campaigns across various indications
- Brands supported: Majority of Pfizer Oncology assets (in-market and piepline)
VP Medical Director
Harrison and Star (Omnicom)
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Lead and oversaw medical strategy on multiple large accounts
- Supported 6 oncology brands across multiple indications representing ~$15M AOR business
- Concepting and execution of branded, unbranded content strategy, message platforms across a full suite of omnichannel HCP and patient promotional tactics
- Developed and mentored a team of 5-6 direct reports and several freelancers with high retention rates
- Supported 8 new business initiatives and pitches (3 AOR wins)
- Brands supported: Linvoseltamab: Multiple myeloma (prelaunch) (Regeneron), BRAFVOVI/MEKTOVI: Melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer (Pfizer), ENHERTU: Precision medicine - breast cancer (AstraZeneca), ONUREG: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (BMS), LENVIMA: Liver, thyroid, and kidney cancer (Eisai), HALAVEN: Metastatic breast cancer (Eisai), OPTUNE: Glioblastoma and Mesothelioma (Novocure), LEQEMBI: Alzheimer’s Disease (Eisai), Omidenepag: Glaucoma (prelaunch) (Santen), JANUVIA: T2 diabetes (Merck), VERQUVO: Heart failure (Merck)
Medical Science Liaison
Secura Bio
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Company Overview: (Multiple Myeloma, Northeast territory)
- High-impact role in medical affairs at a pre-IPO biotech startup that commercializes FARYDAK (panobinostat) for multiple myeloma.
- Built and maintained relationships with KOLs and community oncologists in the Northeastern US
- Developed a KOL engagement plan and scientific communication platform
- Partnered closely with commercial and field sales teams
- Delivered presentations to diverse HCP audiences
- Assessed 4 new IST opportunities and managed 3 ongoing ISTs in the EU and US
- Cross-functional coordination of a Phase 3 IST in the EU, including drug supply logistics and contracting
- Responded to requests for scientific information
- Represented the company at the ASH 2019 congress
VP Medical Director
Freelance
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Partnered with clients (pharma and agency) to develop scientific platforms, medical strategy and tactical plans, pre-launch plans, scientific messaging, advisory boards, and training of MSL and sales force teams.
- Agencies served: Lockwood Group, Phoenix group, Evolution Medical Communications, Cactus Communications, The Medical Affairs Company
- Key clients and brands served: TECENTRIQ - melanoma (Genentech), NERLYNX - breast cancer (Puma Biosciences), Neuroblastoma (Ymab), Tab-cel, CAR-T, Adoptive T-cell therapies in oncology and multiple sclerosis (Atara Biotherapeutics), Repatha (Amgen) - cardiovascular, Margetuximab - HER2+ breast cancer (Macrogenics Inc., med affairs role), FARXIGA - diabetes (AstraZeneca)
VP Medical Director
BGB Communications
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Served as scientific lead for 3 major brands for pharmaceutical clients in Oncology, Immunology and Metabolics, and managed 3 direct reports.
- Key projects included pre-launch initiatives, medical education/communication resources, advisory boards, brand planning, congress support, message development, market research, scientific communication platforms, Payer and MSL training decks.
- Key products/brands supported: Ozanimoid (ZEPOSIA) - Multiple sclerosis (Celgene), Zolbetuximab/iMAB362 - Gastric Cancer (Astellas), Sotagliflozin - Diabetes (Lexicon Pharmaceuticals), PRAULENT - Cardiovascular (Sanofi/Regeneron)
Senior Director, Scientific Communications
Articulate Sciences
01.2017 - 01.2017
- Served as scientific lead on medical communications business for pharmaceutical clients in oncology and managed a team of 3 direct reports. Key projects included core medical education and communication resources, global advisory boards, competitive due diligence, internal cross functional workshop facilitation and sales training.
- Key brands supported: TAFINLAR-MEKINIST - Melanoma (Novartis), TASIGNA - CML (Novartis), SANDOSTATIN - Gastric NETs (Novartis)
Senior Director
The Vaniam Group LLC
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Served as scientific lead on several medical communication accounts for pharmaceutical clients in oncology.
- Key brands/products supported: IMBRUVICA - CLL, GVHD, Lymphoma (Janssen/ Pharmacyclics): supported two label expansions, case study development, KOL engagement, pipeline development support for lymphomas and Graft vs. Host disease, DARZALEX - Multiple Myeloma (Janssen): launch planning and tactical execution, advisory boards, scientific narrative development, strategic workshop facilitation, KOL planning dashboard development, OPDIVO - Bladder, RCC, Lung, and Head/neck cancer (BMS): conducted over 15 one-on-one phone interviews with KOLs, CAR-T/ YESCARTA - DLBCL/ ALL (Kite Pharma): pre-launch planning and advisory board execution, BESAPONZA - ALL (Pfizer): KOL planning and engagement playbook, MYLOTARG - AML (Pfizer): KOL planning and engagement playbook
- Other work streams: Advisory board and steering committee planning, scientific content creation, execution, facilitation and summary development, congress coverage, KOL interactions and competitive intelligence reports, insight generation on market landscape, treatment decision making, diagnostic testing, patient journey and impact of clinical data.
Associate VP, Medical Director
L&M Healthcare Communications
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Served as scientific/medical lead for medical communications business supporting pharmaceutical clients in Oncology, Immunology and CNS . Managed a team with 2 direct reports
- Key brands/products supported: KYPROLIS - Multiple Myeloma (Onyx/Amgen): Team lead for promotional peer-to-peer initiatives supporting KYPROLIS speaker's bureau in multiple myeloma, ~20 advisory boards and 3 speaker training initiatives, Other workstreams included positioning, message development, value proposition, promotional pieces, conference coverage, speaker slide decks, speaker training, innovative thought leader engagement platforms, nurse education, ZYTIGA - Prostate Cancer (Janssen), CIMZIA - RA/Psoriatic arthritis (UCB Pharma), VIMPAT - Epilepsy (UCB Pharma)
VP Associate Medical Director
AgencyRx (Omnicom Group)
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Served as promotional agency medical lead for the Celgene Heme franchise (MDS and Myeloma). Key workstreams included promotional message platform development and testing, promotional content for the market access and reimbursement team (product monograph, Mock P&T content stimuli, NAM message development), Field force training, focus group testing and advisory boards.
- Key brands supported: REVLIMID - Multiple Myeloma and MDS (Celgene), POMALYST - Multiple Myeloma (Celgene), VIDAZA - MDS/AML (Celgene)
Senior Associate
The Frankel Group (Huron Consulting)
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Pharmaceutical management consulting
- Guided BD teams and C-suite level pharmaceutical clients on clinical and commercial opportunity prioritization across a range of therapeutic areas
Analyst
Syneos/InVentiv Health
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Pharmaceutical Management Consulting
- Developed launch playbooks for oncology products DOXIL and YONDELIS (Janssen)
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cell And Molecular Biology
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL 01.2005 - 01.2008
PhD - Cell and Molecular Biology
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA 01.2000 - 01.2005
Master of Science - Biomedical Sciences
Delhi University
01.1998 - 01.2000
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
Bangalore University
01.1995 - 01.1998
Skills
- Oncology Strategy
- Medical Affairs
- KOL Engagement
- Scientific Platform Development
- Prelaunch & Launch Planning
- Advisory Boards
- Omnichannel Engagement
- Precision Medicine
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Conference Planning
- Clinical Data Interpretation
- Medical Education
- Strategic brand positioning
- creative concepting
- communication strategy
- messaging and scientific narrative
- unbranded awareness campaigns
- competitive intelligence
- promotional marketing
- strategic brand and tactical planning
- cross-functional workshops
- congress coverage,
- Digital and traditional P2P, personal and non personal tactics,
Websites
Accomplishments
successful transition of new accounts to Publicis, several successful product launches, disease awareness campaigns, established Oncology Academy - an internal educational training initiative to upskill all team members within the agency
Timeline
SVP, Medical Director
Publicis Health
01.2023 - Current
VP Medical Director
Harrison and Star (Omnicom)
01.2020 - 01.2023
Medical Science Liaison
Secura Bio
11.2019 - 02.2020
VP Medical Director
Freelance
01.2018 - 01.2019
VP Medical Director
BGB Communications
01.2017 - 01.2018
Senior Director, Scientific Communications
Articulate Sciences
01.2017 - 01.2017
Senior Director
The Vaniam Group LLC
01.2015 - 01.2017
Associate VP, Medical Director
L&M Healthcare Communications
01.2012 - 01.2015
VP Associate Medical Director
AgencyRx (Omnicom Group)
01.2010 - 01.2012
Senior Associate
The Frankel Group (Huron Consulting)
01.2009 - 01.2010
Analyst
Syneos/InVentiv Health
01.2008 - 01.2009
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cell And Molecular Biology
University of Chicago
01.2005 - 01.2008
PhD - Cell and Molecular Biology
The Pennsylvania State University
01.2000 - 01.2005
Master of Science - Biomedical Sciences
Delhi University
01.1998 - 01.2000
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
Bangalore University
01.1995 - 01.1998
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