Presence is not the same as impact.

The question is no longer whether Medical Affairs belongs at the table. It’s whether it is operating in a way that actually changes what happens there. To explore this shift, MA Pulse is publishing a three-part series examining where insight translates into impact—and where it doesn’t—across the development lifecycle.

In the first article in this series, we explored how Medical Affairs translates insight into action and influences organizational decision-making.

This conversation shifts the focus from influence to capability building. As organizations move from scientific promise toward clinical development, leaders must make critical decisions long before outcomes are certain.

Joseph Elassal, MD, formerly Chief Medical Officer of Ankyra Therapeutics, shares his perspective on what it takes to build for the future while operating within the constraints of today.