MCPHS in collaboration with Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is offering fellowship experience within US Market Access. This unique rotational program allows fellows to actively contribute to the development and execution of Payer Marketing, Contracting and Pricing, and Market Access strategies for Alexion's diverse and innovative rare disease portfolio across our franchises. 

Core rotation offered: 

• Year 1: Access Strategy and Marketing 
• Year 2: Strategic Contracting and Pricing (6 months) + Elective within the Commercial Organization (6 months) 

Elective opportunities tailored to the fellow's professional interests: 

• Trade/Distribution & Channel Strategy
• Strategic Initiatives & Operations
• Contract Management
• Payer Customer Marketing
• Brand Marketing

The Alexion/AstraZeneca Rare Disease US Market Access team leads and executes strategies to ensure optimized patient access to our therapies across the portfolio of medications available in the US. By balancing the needs of patients, payers and healthcare systems, the team helps deliver treatments that are both accessible and sustainably priced. Fellows are fully embedded in project teams and contribute directly to solving real-world access challenges that impact rare disease patients. By joining this program, fellows position themselves at the forefront of Market Access in rare disease, helping ensure that patients have timely access to life-changing therapies. 

Please see our brochure for additional details.

If you have any questions, please contact us at PharmD.Fellowships@alexion.com.

About Alexion

Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease group, was created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more than 30 years, Alexion’s mission has been to transform the lives of people affected by rare diseases through the development and delivery of innovative medicines as well as supportive technologies and healthcare services. Dedicated to continuing its mission as part of AstraZeneca, Alexion leads with the knowledge that patients and caregivers are people first, and by seeking to understand their experiences, Alexion is better able to serve their unique needs.

Alexion’s pioneering legacy in rare diseases is rooted in being the first to translate the complex biology of the complement system into novel medicines. Alexion continues to push the boundaries of science to accelerate the discovery and development of new life-changing medicines for even more people affected by rare diseases. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and continues to expand its reach to benefit the lives of more rare disease patients around the world.

For more information, please visit www.alexion.com.

Application Procedure

To be considered for an interview, please complete a fellowship application on the MCPHS SMApply application portal. Visit https://mcphs.smapply.io/

Please DO NOT request an interview within PPS. Our recruitment teams will contact qualified candidates via email to schedule interviews. 

The MCPHS application portal (SMApply) will open up on Monday, October 6, 2025. Applicants must upload the following application materials to the online portal by Monday, November 3, 2025:

• Letter of intent (addressed to the company specific program director/lead; found in each company brochure)
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial college transcript
• Contact information for three references. References will receive an electronic recommendation form to complete separately.

Three recommendation evaluation forms must be submitted no later than November 20, 2025 via the online portal. This is NOT a letter of recommendation but an online form that the recommender will receive for completion from SMApply.

Application Review and Interview Timeline

Following a review of submitted applications, pre-screens and preliminary interviews will begin in October. Additional interviews, including final rounds will take place in December during ASHP. Candidates will be notified if selected for an interview. The process is rigorous and competitive; therefore candidates should submit their applications well in advance of posted deadlines as priority will be given to those who apply early.

ASHP Midyear and  Onsite Interviews

The fellowship program will be conducting in-person interviews at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas, NV. Attendance is strongly encouraged, but not required. Candidates attending in-person will not be able to interview without registering for both ASHP and PPS. Please refer to the ASHP & PPS website for registration details.

Top candidates may be invited for interviews at the sponsoring company’s location

AIFA First Offer Date

The choice of a Post-Doctoral Fellowship is an important decision. MCPHS, in conjunction with the Alliance of Industry Fellowship Associates (AIFA), has aligned to extend offers for Fellowships no earlier than December 12, 2025. We believe this is a positive reflection of the cultures our Programs offer, and that culture is a critical consideration in choice of Fellowship. We hope that other academic and non-academic Fellowship Programs will NOT pressure candidates to accept offers prior to this aligned offer date.

We see this respect for candidate choice as a common aspect of each of our Program's cultures. We hope that other academic and non-academic Fellowship Programs will respect this timeline.

Learn more about AIFA affiliated programs

Eligibility

The MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Industry fellows will be selected on a nationally competitive basis. Applicants must have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy at the commencement of the program.

• Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills and a strong interest in pursuing a career within the biopharmaceutical industry.
• All candidates must have authorization to work in the United States throughout the duration of the one or two year fellowship. No visa sponsorship will be provided (i.e., TN, H-1B, STEM OPT, etc.).

Onboarding

Final candidates will be required to go through additional screening / onboarding as required by MCPHS

About MCPHS/Alexion

Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease group, was created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more than 30 years, Alexion’s mission has been to transform the lives of people affected by rare diseases through the development and delivery of innovative medicines as well as supportive technologies and healthcare services. Dedicated to continuing its mission as part of AstraZeneca, Alexion leads with the knowledge that patients and caregivers are people first, and by seeking to understand their experiences, Alexion is better able to serve their unique needs. Alexion’s pioneering legacy in rare diseases is rooted in being the first to translate the complex biology of the complement system into novel medicines. Alexion continues to push the boundaries of science to accelerate the discovery and development of new life-changing medicines for even more people affected by rare diseases. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and continues to expand its reach to benefit the lives of more rare disease patients around the world. MCPHS provides an academic environment to guide and support fellows toward a successful career ...in the biopharmaceutical industry. As a private institution with a history of specializing in health sciences, MCPHS offers programs that embody scholarship, professional service, and community outreach. Through MCPHS, the fellow will have the opportunity to gain teaching and research experience in an academic setting. MCPHS faculty and company program leaders mentor fellows according to their scholarly and professional interests throughout the two-year program. As an adjunct instructor at MCPHS, the fellow may have the opportunity to: develop, coordinate, and teach courses; co-precept pharmacy students on advanced experiential rotations; create and publish scholarly research and/or review articles; present research at scientific and clinical meetings; participate in professional development seminars with other fellows and residents from MCPHS-affiliated programs.

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