2008

Should free drug samples be banned? The new PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals bans free pens and out-of-office lunches, but it doesn't ban samples. Many sales consider free drug samples an important marketing tactic that they can employ to gain access to physicians. In 2005, the pharmaceutical industry distributed more than $18 billion worth of drug samples. But critics are concerned that drug samples increase costs, raise questions about the appropriateness of treatment choices, and create real or perceived conflicts of interest in the medical profession.

Should free drug samples be banned? The new PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals bans free pens and out-of-office lunches, but it doesn't ban samples. Many sales consider free drug samples an important marketing tactic that they can employ to gain access to physicians. In 2005, the pharmaceutical industry distributed more than $18 billion worth of drug samples. But critics are concerned that drug samples increase costs, raise questions about the appropriateness of treatment choices, and create real or perceived conflicts of interest in the medical profession.

In today's competitive market, pricing and reimbursement strategies are key to maximizing brand success and ROI. Because every country's healthcare system is different-and every product situation is unique-every brand requires a specific access plan, tailored to each market. And you must support each plan with effective messaging that ensures strong product acceptance and uptake. Experts from TNS Healthcare spoke on this issue in a recent webinar and during an exclusive interview with Pharma Marketing News.

This article is a review of a presentation by Aaron Uydess, Senior eMarketing Manager at Novo Nordisk, made at Eye for Pharma's 3rd eCommunication and Online Marketing Summit held October 23-24, 2008, in Boston, Massachusetts. Uydess presents a best-in-class approach to developing online plans that align with strategy, reduce silos, and measure and merchandise digital strategies across a pharmaceutical marketing organization.

Welcome to the November, 2008 issue of Pharma Marketing News.

There is no doubt that the next several years will be very tough on the pharmaceutical industry.

Welcome to the October, 2008 issue of Pharma Marketing News.

It's official! If the presidential election were held today, 55 percent of employees of pharmaceutical companies said they would vote for Mr. Obama and 28 percent said they would vote for Mr. McCain.

Welcome to the October, 2008 issue of Pharma Marketing News.

Medical device marketing is different than Rx drug marketing, which is something attendees of the recent PharmaMed Marketing & Media Conference hosted by Med Ad News learned. This article summarizes a presentation from that conference and discusses how medical device marketing to consumers and physicians is different than Rx drug marketing. While some device marketing campaigns take a page from the Rx arena, there are difficulties and roadblocks ahead and these are also summarized in this article.