2012

A 'recession' in pharma marketing is likely considering the well-known 'patent cliff' that's currently in progress; ie, blockbuster drugs with a combined $170 billion in annual sales will go off-patent by 2015. That means even less mass media advertising and more digital advertising. But 'more digital advertising' does not mean that much more money will be spent in the digital arena. That's because of social media, where it's virtually free to advertise!

Welcome to Volume 11, Issue #2 (22 FEBRUARY 2012) of Pharma Marketing News.

The drug industry is contending with a storm of unsavory media coverage documenting drug shortages in the U.S., drug counterfeiting, and recalls due to manufacturing faults. Some say bad journalism is heightening the

In a blog post provocatively titled 'An App for That, But For How Much Longer?', PhRMA's Kate Connors agreed with a Washington Times op-ed piece that suggested the FDA will soon require apps such as medication prescription renewal reminders and blood glucose level tracking functions to be regulated as medical devices. The op-ed author, Joel White, executive director of the Health IT Now Coalition, suggests that this effort would lead to increased costs as well as constraints on user access to these apps, which 'may cause developers to move on to other, less burdensome endeavors.' 'In the end, this could hinder the way that patients can actively improve their own care,' said Conners. Is this fear warranted? Are there apps that SHOULD be regulated by the FDA? Read this article and find out.

Drugmakers dissatisfied with the FDA's use of guidances as a form of policymaking -- including long-awaited guidance for use of social media by the pharmaceutical industry -- could find legal ammunition against the practice. This article presents the relevant case information.

Mobile is the new 'shiny thing' of interest to pharmaceutical marketers. However, most pharma mobile apps that I have seen are pretty mundane as far as marketing/advertising is concerned. What's it going to take to make these apps more interesting and useful?

Welcome to Volume 11, Issue #1 (26 JANUARY 2012) of Pharma Marketing News.

Unless you are living under a rock on the Moon, you've probably heard that Novo Nordisk has teamed up with celebrity Southern-style chef Paula Deen as a paid spokesperson. Ambre Morley, Associate Director, Product Communications, Novo Nordisk, answers questions about why her company teamed up with Deen as a diabetes spokesperson.

Two days after Christmas, on December 27, 2011, while most of us were still on vacation, the FDA quietly issued

"Open Access" Social Media Guidelines for Pharma A Review and Commentary by John MackHealth Social Media...