The regulated sectors next to medicines
Medical writers can apply their pharmaceutical writing skills in neighbouring regulated sectors. Entry depends on the skills a sector shares with pharmaceutical writing and the scientific or regulatory knowledge it adds.
Skills that transfer
Understanding and clearly communicating complex medical information, working with multifunctional teams, compiling detailed documents and following regulations and guidelines should transfer to other domains. Veterinary writing, cosmetics, chemicals, pesticides and in vitro diagnostics offer areas of work beside pharmaceutical writing.
Diversifying into other regulated sectors can widen a client base limited to the pharmaceutical industry. Experienced medical writers can apply their skills to technical regulatory writing with some home study.
Cosmetics
Medical writers experienced in clinical and regulatory pharmaceutical writing are well placed to help cosmetic companies compile a Product Information File (PIF): they already know how to present information, formulate key messages and tell a clear, complete and consistent product story. An experienced writer can reduce preparation time and minimise questions and delays. Smaller cosmetic companies may need to outsource work that some international companies handle through established regulatory and pharmacovigilance departments; this creates an opportunity for agencies and freelance writers.
Chemicals and pesticides
An experienced medical writer with access to appropriate resources can compile and prepare pesticide dossiers. For chemical dossiers under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals), home study and perhaps a course or two can enable an experienced medical writer to add dossier compilation and writing to their skills without too much effort. An introductory course can offer the basics, hands-on practice in writing parts of a dossier and personal contacts who can provide information afterwards.
Nanomedicine
Writing regulatory documents for nanoapplications and nanosimilars demands extensive knowledge of the clinical indication, applicable regulations, physics, chemistry and materials science. The interplay of these disciplines calls for a broad scientific background.