Professional

Merck takes stake in Physicians Interactive

Matthew Arnold January 05, 2012

Merck's Global Health Innovation Fund (GHIF) is investing up to $17 million in Physicians Interactive, a company that develops digital products for doctors such as e-sampling and interactive education programs.

Ipsen to bulk up commercial team as it moves US hub to NJ

Marc Iskowitz December 15, 2011

Ipsen announced plans to reorganize its North American commercial operation by relocating the head office from California to New Jersey and hiring about 100 employees.

How Genentech cut journal ads across all Avastin indications

Marc Iskowitz December 05, 2011

Well before the FDA revoked Avastin's approval in breast cancer, Roche's Genentech unit deeply cut the professional media plan for the drug, the company said.

Pri-Med sold; John Mooney returns as CEO

Marc Iskowitz November 23, 2011

Pri-Med founder John Mooney and his former management team have returned to the firm, which is under new ownership following M|C Holding's sale of Pri-Med's US assets to Canadian event and media producer Diversified Business Communications.

Springer in deal to buy Wolters Kluwer pharma-related journals

Marc Iskowitz November 09, 2011

Wolters Kluwer reached an agreement to sell its pharma-related marketing and publishing services unit to Springer Science+Business Media, the firms said today.

Branded Benlysta DTC campaign ready to roll out

Marc Iskowitz October 26, 2011

New online and print DTC advertising targeting US patients with lupus will appear "within weeks," said executives from Human Genome Sciences. Can the campaign revive blockbuster fortunes for Benlysta?

Saatchi appoints a turnaround artist to lead NY professional shop

Matthew Arnold October 10, 2011

Publicis Healthcare Communications Group named Anders Ekman managing director of Saatchi & Saatchi Health Communications New York, the flagship professional healthcare agency of the Saatchi brand.

Among doctors, Google outpaces professional search engines

Marc Iskowitz September 22, 2011

Double the number of MDs used Google (87%) for professional research online as the next most-used search options (WebMD and PubMed, each at 43%), data from a recent survey show.

Majority of pharma journal ads not FDA-compliant: study

Lauren Folino August 17, 2011

Four out of five ads analyzed in a study of physician-directed pharmaceutical advertising would definitely not pass FDA muster, or might have trouble doing so, said researchers. Their findings may have implications for the FDA, DDMAC and the "Bad Ad" program.

Global healthcare pros prefer live reps, survey finds

Matthew Arnold April 15, 2011

For all the talk of e-detailing and digitizing the sales force, a plurality of international healthcare professionals would rather get info about new treatments from flesh-and-blood reps than through any other channel, a survey found.

Ad for platelet-inhibition test pushes envelope, cardiologist asserts

Marc Iskowitz March 07, 2011

Is a medical journal ad for platelet-inhibition testing backed up by evidence that treatment guided by such testing can reduce the risk of clot formation?

Savient focuses on reimbursement for Krystexxa launch

Ben Comer March 01, 2011

Savient Pharmaceuticals launched Krystexxa (pegloticase), an orphan drug for chronic gout, on Monday, and deployed a mix of sales reps, education specialists and business managers to help expedite reimbursement from payers, executives said on a conference call.

Forest Labs to acquire Clinical Data, add reps for Viibryd launch

Ben Comer February 22, 2011

Forest Labs will acquire Clinical Data for $1.2 billion, and expand its primary care sales forces in preparation for the launch of Viibryd (vilazodone HCI), executives said in a call this morning.

Sales reps say medical knowledge, business acumen are keys to access

Ben Comer February 16, 2011

A large survey of sales reps found that knowledge of evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines, as well as information related to managing the business aspects of a healthcare practice, are the two best ways to get a foot in the door with physicians

Sunovion reps deployed for Latuda

Ben Comer February 10, 2011

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals is targeting 22,000 psychiatrists in the US, with a sales force of 336 reps, in support of Latuda, an atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia. Psychiatrists can also request samples and track delivery online.

Progenics shifts Relistor marketing duties from Pfizer to Salix

Ben Comer February 08, 2011

Progenics announced that it will hand over commercial duties on Relistor, a subcutaneous injection for opioid-induced constipation, to Salix Pharmaceuticals, beginning in April. Financial terms include a $60 million upfront payment to Progenics, and another potential $290 million in development and sales-based milestone payments.

iRep lets docs sign an iPad for samples

Ben Comer January 19, 2011

Sales reps armed with an iPad can collect digital signatures for samples thanks to iRep, a physician detailing application set to launch in mid-February.

Merck, GSK expand sales forces in China

Ben Comer January 13, 2011

Merck and GSK are both increasing the number of sales reps operating in China, according to separate presentations given by the two companies. In both cases, added reps in emerging markets are helping to offset significant reductions in US sales forces, company executives said.

Supreme Court to weigh prescriber data ban

Ben Comer January 11, 2011

After shrugging at a similar plea for a hearing in July of 2009, the Supreme Court has decided to weigh in on the legality of selling prescriber data - or information that details the prescribing habits of physicians - to drug marketers.

At work, Sermo docs prefer the Epocrates app, MM&M poll finds

Ben Comer January 10, 2011

Doctors responding to an MM&M survey hosted by Sermo - a social network for practicing physicians - said they use the Epocrates mobile app more often for work purposes than any other app.

DDMAC pokes Allergan on eye drop direct mail

Ben Comer December 07, 2010

Allergan has a superiority complex when it comes to marketing its ophthalmic drops, as evidenced by a second DDMAC Untitled Letter posted online yesterday.

Former sales rep to argue First Amendment protection in court

Ben Comer December 02, 2010

A federal appeals court has agreed to hear oral arguments about whether the First Amendment protects a sales rep's ability to share information about off-label uses of a drug.

Primary care docs like GSK reps best, study finds

Ben Comer November 30, 2010

Primary care physicians gave GlaxoSmithKline sales reps the highest marks on a quality scale, according to an SDI study. The higher physician ratings corresponded with a 12% decline in the number of sales calls GSK reps made to PCPs.

FDA approval pits Amgen's denosumab against Novartis' Zometa

Ben Comer November 22, 2010

Amgen received FDA approval for a higher dose of its denosumab injection, Xgeva, which puts the drug in competition with Novartis' Zometa (zoledronic acid) for the prevention of bone damage in patients with certain types of cancer. A lower dose of denosumab, Prolia, was approved by FDA in June for osteoporosis.

Allergan to shift headache sales reps to Botox

Ben Comer November 09, 2010

Allergan sales forces previously working on GSK headache drugs Imitrex and Amerge as part of a co-promotion will be reassigned to Botox, in support of the drug's new headache indication.

Contract sales firm PDI buys digital shop Group DCA

Matthew Arnold November 04, 2010

Contract sales giant PDI acquired digital agency Group DCA, seeking to bolster its non-personal promotion capabilities.

New journal hopes to capitalize on growing specialty pharmacy niche

Ben Comer November 04, 2010

Pharmacy Times launched a new title, Specialty Pharmacy Times, which will focus on policy, regulatory and legal issues, as well as product reviews, reimbursement and new clinical trends in specialty pharmacy.

New cancer journal tackles advances in research

Ben Comer November 02, 2010

The American Association for Cancer Research will launch a new journal -- Cancer Discovery -- in April 2011. The peer-reviewed journal will focus on research spanning cancer science and medicine, including news, commentaries, and "Research Watch" summaries of important journal articles.

Biogen Idec execs credit bolstered sales forces in Tysabri uptick

Ben Comer October 28, 2010

Biogen Idec and Elan's MS drug Tysabri realized a 15% increase in US revenues during the third quarter (compared with 3Q 2009), a gain at least partially due to larger sales forces and increased patient assistance programs, according to Biogen Idec executives.

Walgreens partners with Epocrates to highlight drug rebates

Ben Comer October 20, 2010

Walgreens is hoping physicians will consider its "Prescription Savings Club" list of over 8,000 brand and generic drugs before deciding which script to write for underinsured or cash-strapped patients. Epocrates will provide point of care access to the list via mobile device starting today.