2005

Now that market forces are starting to turn negative, have we reached a point where the bloat (inefficiency) is unsustainable? Or are threats of layoffs just a ploy to sustain stock market value?

Dear Reader, Welcome to the January 2005 archive of Pharma Marketing News. Vol. 4, No. 1: January 2005 - CONTENTS...

For various reasons, it is hard to find a conclusively documented answer to a seemingly simple question: do interactive health education media improve patients' health practices? In fact, a recent high-profile report attempted to answer that question and got it wrong: procedural flaws led them to an unjustified conclusion. The problem lies in seeking a broad general picture. More appropriate is to focus on the specific patient population, the distinct behaviors to be changed, and the particular tactics employed.

Access to physicians is becoming more and more of a problem. Doctors need immense amounts of medical information, but their patient loads limit their ability to see pharma sales reps or attend conferences or other educational activities away from their offices at such venues as local restaurants and hotels. And it is impractical to bring KOLs and experts into the physician's office.

Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are in an excellent position to lead pharma-sponsored CE planning and provide educational strategy for improving patient care by furthering effective medical educational activities.

In addition to her clinical and professional role as an experienced and successful MSL for Sepracor in the Indianapolis, IN area, Erin Albert, R.Ph, MBA, has spent a considerable amount of time researching and gathering psychometric data about her peers' job satisfaction in their current MSL roles.

Managing a winning team of Medical Liaisons, MLs, from afar, not only demands proper selection of highly driven, self-motivated and scientifically-fluent professionals, but also requires a manager's recognition and vision of 'top-down-bottom-up' leadership style: consistent, rapid long distance communication, a team-shared vision of goals and responsibilities, and a working foundation of trust for overall success and ML job satisfaction.

Disease management is a complex process for pharmaceutical manufacturers, but Internet-based programs can help drive market share, sales growth, and patient compliance.

What impact will issues like drug reimporation, weak pipelines, decreasing profits, drug recalls, class action lawsuits, government regulation, etc., have on the course of the pharmaceutical industry in 2005?

I love blogging! Blogging is less formal than other types of web-based publishing. You can be more opinionated and you can publish your thoughts any time you feel the urge. I like it because I often have opinions on pharma issues as they arise and blogging allows me to publish those opinions immediately and with little hassle.