Articles

Despite the fact physician that usage of the Internet has increased over the past few years, solid evidence for the reasons they access the Internet or, more importantly, if the knowledge they gained from online CME presentations has any impact on their practice is still largely unknown.

On April 1, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), by unanimous vote, adopted the updated ACCME Standards for Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education. This article summarizes when it is and is not appropriate for pharmaceutical companies to support independent CME programs.

So who wants to go head-to-head with Viagra? The ultimate pharmaceutical mega-brand: a blockbuster drug, with a superbly executed global campaign, an urban legend. According to Blair Waite, Brand Manager, Global Marketing for Eli Lilly and Co., Viagra is now the world's 2nd most recognized brand name, after Coca Cola.

How are DTC activities integrated as key components throughout the marketing mix, including advertising, advocacy and public relations? What are the risks and rewards associated with launching a DTC campaign? How have top pharmaceutical marketers managed to address sensitive health issues and drive awareness and sales through DTC? Is every drug really a viable candidate for a Direct-to-Consumer campaign? These were some of the questions discussed during an evening seminar entitled DTC Sweeps: The Impact and Evolving Role of Direct-to-Consumer Marketing.

While at a recent conference, I was struck by the fact that most speakers-especially vendors-often were pretty critical of the industry. I hear there are too many silos, too much focus on short-term results, not invented here mentality, etc., etc. What a great idea it would be to get all these smart people together and write a book that looked ahead to where the pharma industry might be in five or ten years. Bring all these innovative ideas into it and describe the pharma company of 2010. Call it Healthy Pharma 2010!

Vol. 3, No. 4: April 2004 - CONTENTS Feature Article Intelligent Online Sampling Strategies Conference Highlights The Internet and CME When...

So, the economy sucks and there's less low hanging fruit to go after. That's life. In order to deal with the hand we've been dealt and get our share of the available crumbs out there, we really can't afford to have marketing that sucks. We have to engage in some extreme marketing

Key external drivers shaping the short and longer-term futures of pharma, including political, economic, the provider market, plans, payers/employers, and e-business, among them. How to plan for scenarios based on these drivers.

This article, which is a review of the seminar, Best Practices for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) held in Princeton, New Jersey, in January, 2004, highlights how MSLs can maximize their unique position to help improve medical care while they enhance their companies' bottom lines.

Patient compliance may be a core objective for pharma marketers, but an international quorum of compliance experts at the recent eyeforpharma Patient Compliance 2004 conference in London agreed that the very term 'compliance is incorrect. In 22 in-depth presentations over 2 days, 30 speakers and panelists agreed that marketers need to stop analyzing compliance, and start understanding patients.