Rare Disease Executive Search

Rare Disease Team Builds, Phase 2, Phase 3 & Global Launch

Morgan Prestwich is the exclusive search partner behind the international clinical and launch teams of some of the most successful rare disease biotechs, from the General Manager Europe to every MSL and KAM in country.

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22+Rare disease biotech international builds
130Positions filled in 18 months for one launch
44+Countries we've delivered projects in
15Languages spoken fluently
Two moments that define a rare disease company

Late-stage clinical. Then launch.

In rare disease, talent pools are small, every hire is visible to a close-knit patient and physician community, and there is rarely a second chance at launch. We partner exclusively with biotechs at the two points where the right team matters most.

Phase 2 & Phase 3 clinical team builds

Clinical operations, medical, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, quality and supply chain leaders who can run pivotal rare disease trials across the US, Europe and beyond, and get you ready for filing.

Clinical team builds →

International launch team builds

The entire commercial organisation: above-country leadership from the GM or VP Europe, then country General Managers and their full in-country teams of Medical, Market Access, MSLs and KAMs.

Launch team builds →
Phase 2 & Phase 3

Clinical team builds for rare disease trials

As programmes move into pivotal studies, biotechs need experienced leaders in new geographies, fast. We build the clinical and development functions that take a rare disease asset from proof of concept through Phase 3 and into regulatory submission.

Clinical & Medical

  • Chief Medical Officer
  • VP / Director Clinical Operations
  • Medical Directors & Clinical Scientists
  • Clinical Program & Trial Managers
  • Patient Advocacy & Early Access

Regulatory & Safety

  • Head of Regulatory Affairs Europe
  • Regulatory Strategy (EMA, FDA, MHRA)
  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Quality Assurance
  • Medical Writing

Operations & Pre-launch

  • Supply Chain & Distribution
  • CMC & Technical Operations
  • HEOR & early Market Access evidence
  • Medical Affairs & MSL leadership
  • Finance, HR & Government Affairs
Global exclusive partner · US, Europe, APAC & South America

Beeline Medicines

A precision immunology company launched in 2026 with a portfolio of clinical-stage small molecules and biologics for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including rare immune conditions. Morgan Prestwich is retained as Beeline's global exclusive search partner to build the organisation across four continents.

Exclusive partner · Late-stage clinical

Edgewise Therapeutics

A biopharmaceutical company developing oral, small-molecule muscle and cardiac sarcomere modulators for muscular dystrophies and serious cardiac conditions, with its lead cardiac programme advancing into Phase 3. Morgan Prestwich is an exclusive search partner as the company scales.

International launch

The entire launch build, from GM Europe to every country team

Most US rare disease biotechs launch internationally once. We have done it many times. Under exclusive Master Service Agreements we build the complete organisation in sequence, so each layer of leadership helps hire the next.

Selected launch builds

Rare disease companies we exclusively built internationally

Each of these companies went on to be acquired. We were the exclusive partner behind their international organisations.

Rare paediatric liver disease · Exclusive MSA

Albireo Pharma

Now part of Ipsen

Commercial-stage developer of bile acid modulators for orphan paediatric liver diseases. Retained exclusively under a Master Service Agreement to build Albireo's entire international launch operation.

Above country

President International · EU VP Medical Affairs · EU Medical Director · EU Senior Director Marketing · VP Distributor Markets (Middle East, Africa, APAC)

In country

General Managers, Medical Directors, Market Access, MSLs and KAMs in Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain
Rare disease & oncology · Over 130 hires

EUSA Pharma

Now part of Recordati

Biopharma focused on rare diseases and oncology, including Sylvant for idiopathic multicentric Castleman's disease. Retained exclusively to build UK, EU, International and US operations, including all three of its rare disease launch teams.

Above country

Marketing · Market Access · Medical Directors · Government Affairs · HR · Finance

In country

General Managers, Marketing, Medical, Market Access and sales teams in Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain and the USA
Rare liver disease · 130 positions in 18 months

Intercept Pharmaceuticals

Now part of Alfasigma

Developer of therapeutics for progressive non-viral liver diseases across the US, Europe and Canada. Retained under a Master Service Agreement to build its entire international operation: 130 positions in 18 months.

Above country

VPs Market Access, Marketing and Medical · Directors and Senior Directors Market Access, Marketing and Medical · Medical Directors · Government Affairs · Finance

In country

General Managers, Marketing, Medical, Market Access and KAMs in Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden
Rare disease & rare oncology · Exclusive international partner

SpringWorks Therapeutics

Now part of Merck KGaA

Precision medicine company for patients with rare diseases and cancer. Appointed exclusive international search partner to build above-country leadership in Zug, Switzerland, then the in-country teams, starting with Germany ahead of the wider EU5.

Above country (Zug)

GM International · Medical International · European Market Access · European Marketing · European Supply Chain

Germany

General Manager · Medical Director · Marketing · 3 MSLs · 6 KAMs
Ongoing · Rare neuroendocrine disease

US commercial-stage rare disease biotech

Partner of choice for all international appointments: General Managers for Spain, Germany and the UK, a Country Manager for Belgium, Medical Directors across the EU5, a European Marketing Director, MSLs and KAMs.

Ongoing · Rare disease, first launch

US rare disease biotech, US then European launch

Built the US team as the company moved through the clinic into its first launch, then retained under an MSA for Europe: Heads of Medical, Regulatory, Market Access and Marketing Europe, plus the German affiliate.

Ongoing · Neuromuscular

Late-stage neuromuscular biotech

Appointed the SVP General Manager International for the company's new European headquarters in Switzerland, after a shortlist and intensive US interview process. Exclusive partner for the wider European build.

“Morgan Prestwich’s team has proven to be efficient, nimble, successful and engaging for the build of our INTL team, and I would happily recommend their services.”
Steve Arnold · Former President International, Albireo Pharma · now Chief, Global Head of Rare Diseases, Amicus Therapeutics

Don't just take our word for it. We will introduce you to the leadership and HR leaders at our client companies for real-time references.

Request a reference
Who leads your build
Greg Bell, Founder and CEO of Morgan Prestwich

Greg Bell

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Greg leads every clinical and launch team build at Morgan Prestwich. He has spent over 20 years in global life sciences executive search, and his core expertise is late-stage clinical development and the launch of biotech assets in the US, Europe and internationally. He has deep knowledge of US and European healthcare systems.

Morgan Prestwich works across every therapy area, with rare disease as a core specialism.

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Questions

Rare disease team builds: common questions

How long does it take to build a European rare disease launch team?

It depends on scope and countries. As a benchmark, Morgan Prestwich filled 130 international positions in 18 months for Intercept Pharmaceuticals under an exclusive Master Service Agreement. Senior above-country hires typically come first, followed by country general managers and their teams.

Which roles should a rare disease biotech hire first when expanding into Europe?

Most clients start with an above-country leader (General Manager or VP Europe/International) plus heads of Medical, Market Access, Regulatory and Supply Chain. Country general managers follow, then in-country Medical Directors, Market Access Directors, MSLs and KAMs.

Do you only recruit in the EU5?

No. We have placed leaders in 44+ countries across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and South America, with consultants speaking 15 languages.

Do you only work in rare disease?

Rare disease is a core specialism, but we work across every therapy area, including oncology, immunology, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, hepatology and cell and gene therapy.

Can we speak to your clients before engaging you?

Yes. We are happy to introduce prospective clients to the leadership and HR leaders at our client companies for real-time references.

Planning a pivotal trial or an international launch?

Talk to Greg about building your team, whether it is one critical hire or your entire international organisation.

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