The SCP Playbook: Turning Strategy into Real-World Impact
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Episode Summary
Scientific Communication Platforms (SCPs) are crucial yet often underutilized tools for achieving consistent, impactful Medical Communications. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Janet Davies, Global Medical Communications Lead for Neurology at UCB, to dive into the development and implementation of SCPs.
Whether you’re developing an SCP or looking to optimize an existing one, this conversation offers practical insights on aligning internal teams and creating impactful scientific narratives that resonate with healthcare professionals.
We’ll talk about how to:
- How to develop an SCP that drives consistent messaging across Medical Affairs functions
- Why early cross-functional alignment is essential for SCP success and adoption
- The critical components of an effective SCP, including pillars and lexicon development
- How to secure buy-in from different functions by demonstrating clear value propositions
- When to initiate SCP development in the drug lifecycle and how often to update it
- Why integrating patient perspectives and real-world feedback strengthens communication strategies
Guest at a Glance
Janet Davies is a Global Medical Communications Lead for Neurology at UCB, where she spearheads scientific communications strategies and Medical Affairs initiatives. With over a decade of experience in Medical Strategy and Scientific Communications, she brings vast expertise in developing and implementing Scientific Communications Platforms (SCPs) across pharmaceutical organizations.
- Connect with Janet Davies on LinkedIn
Host at a Glance
Wesley Portegies is the Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of Medical Communications Experts, an agency specializing in effective Medical Communication strategies for pharmaceutical companies. An experienced entrepreneur, Wesley started his first company at 19 and has built multiple successful companies. With over 20 years in the Medical Industry, both on the agency and industry side, he is driven by a passion for Medical Communications.
- Connect with Wesley Portegies on LinkedIn
Hot Takes and Key Highlights
- [02:40] Building a Long-Term Scientific Communication Strategy
A great Scientific Communication strategy starts with knowing your audience inside and out while keeping a sharp eye on the competitive landscape to both differentiate and collaborate where it makes sense. Link your strategy to the broader asset and medical goals, get early buy-in from cross-functional teams, and be crystal clear on what your Scientific Communication platform is and why it matters.
“I think the first thing is to really know your audience.”
- [06:29] What an SCP Really Is
An is a living, data-backed, strategic resource that tells your scientific story and shapes every piece of communication around it. It distills what you want to say into precise, referenced statements, organized into clear pillars. Paired with a carefully crafted lexicon, it ensures consistent, accurate, and differentiating language across all channels. Update it regularly, keep it targeted, and use it as your north star for scientific communications.
“The SCP is data-driven, so it’s fully referenced. So it’s backed up by data.”
- [09:50] Securing Cross-Functional Buy-In
If you want your SCP to stick, start early, bring everyone into the process, and make it clear what’s in it for them. Educate cross-functional teams on the SCP’s value, hold at least one or two workshops to align on language and key messages, and show how this shared foundation will make their jobs easier later.
“It is really about educating on the value. I think that’s pivotal and gaining the input via workshops.”
- [13:00] Driving SCP Adoption
An SCP only drives impact if it’s actually used, so make it accessible, interactive, and easy to navigate. Involve cross-functional teams early so that it meets everyone’s needs, and keep communication flowing to maintain buy-in. Treat the SCP as a living document: gather real-world feedback from MSLs, update it regularly, and even test it with key opinion leaders or HCPs to ensure it resonates beyond internal walls.
“The first thing is to actually make it accessible and user-friendly.”
- [21:10] When to Start an SCP
Don’t wait until late in drug development to define your Scientific Communication strategy. Even before preclinical publications, align teams on what you do want to say and what you don’t. Setting a clear narrative early, especially around the Mechanism of Action and disease background, ensures consistency, avoids future conflicts, and builds a foundation you can confidently build on as the program progresses.
“Importantly, at that early stage, it’s actually what we don’t want to say yet.”
YouTube Chapters
- [00:00] Intro
- [01:11] Driven by Patient Impact
- [02:40] Building a Long-Term Scientific Communication Strategy
- [06:29] What an SCP Really Is
- [09:50] Securing Cross-Functional Buy-In
- [13:00] Driving SCP Adoption
- [17:26] How an SCP Helped Transform a Drug’s Presence at a Major Congress
- [20:16] Tracking SCP Influence Over Time
- [21:10] When to Start an SCP
- [23:55] First Steps for New SCPs
- [25:10] Ensuring the SCP Is Embedded Into Daily Work
- [27:06] The Career Tip Janet Wishes She Knew