Suppliers & Vendors

Only a tenth of scripts are up for grabs, says IMS study

Matthew Arnold June 09, 2009

Traditional promotion efforts, including details and sampling, can only affect about 10% of prescriptions, an IMS study found, suggesting that the bulk of promotion dollars is misplaced.

Last chance to grab glory

June 04, 2009

If you still haven't entered the MM&M Awards 2009, then you'd better move fast--today (June 5) is the final deadline for submissions.

The Coalition for Healthcare Communication said it doesn't oppose ACCME's proposal to set up an independent entity for disbursal of CME funding - provided that it's not the only game in town and CME providers don't have to pay for it.

AMA ethics group rethinks CME funding

Matthew Arnold May 14, 2009

A pair of American Medical Association committee reports urges that industry-funded CME be put on a tighter leash, but they're a far cry from the ban on commercial support called for by the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs a year ago.

DTC spend set to slide, loyalty cards up, says survey

Matthew Arnold May 13, 2009

Marketers anticipate substantial cuts in DTC spend in 2009, according to a Cegedim Dendrite survey in which 58% of respondents said they'd cut consumer ad spend this year. Last year 28% said they'd cut back on consumer advertising.

Cook launches ART lab tutorial

Ben Comer May 04, 2009

In an effort to improve lab practices in the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART), Cook Medical launched a microsite and video lab tour.

IOM: quit gifts, reps, samples

Matthew Arnold April 28, 2009

Physicians and medical institutions should shun gifts, reps, samples and ghostwriting, said the Institute of Medicine's conflict of interest committee in its full recommendations.

ACCME weighs pharma-free labeling

Matthew Arnold April 23, 2009

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education is considering offering an accreditation flagging CME as being free of drug and device industry support -- a kind of Good Housekeeping Seal for CME.

IMS, SDI want Supremes to look at prescriber data laws

Ben Comer March 27, 2009

IMS Health and SDI are seeking a Supreme Court review of an appeals court ruling that restricts the commercial use of prescriber data in the state of New Hampshire.

Iowa Senate passes harsh gifts, data ban bill

Matthew Arnold March 20, 2009

Iowa's state Senate passed a healthcare bill containing some of the toughest restrictions on drug company contacts with physicians yet.

MedPAC calls for reporting of samples

Matthew Arnold March 03, 2009

An influential advisory board urged Congress to impose far-reaching transparency rules on payments to healthcare professionals and organizations interacting with the drug industry--including reporting samples, in part to aid counterdetailing efforts.

Deep cuts at AstraZeneca, Sepracor

Matthew Arnold January 29, 2009

The cuts keep coming. AstraZeneca will make another 6,000 job cuts for a total of 15,000, or 23% of its global workforce of 65,000, by 2013, and Sepracor is slashing its sales force.

Prescription Project: VNRs on YouTube are ads, must include warnings

Matthew Arnold December 04, 2008

Drug industry watchdog The Prescription Project called on FDA to take action against video news releases and B-roll for Abbott, Medtronic and Stryker medical devices appearing on YouTube, and said the agency should issue guidance for online ads.

Court rules against IMS, SDI on NH data ban

Matthew Arnold November 18, 2008

A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court's injunction of New Hampshire's ban on commercial provision of prescription data, arguing that such restrictions do not constitute an abridgment of free speech.

MM&M Awards salute smart consumer marketing

Matthew Arnold October 31, 2008

Education and innovation were they keys to this year's MM&M Awards in the consumer marketing and advertising categories as the judges rewarded brains over mere branding.

Effort seeks to educate faculty on promotional vs. certified CME

Matthew Arnold October 27, 2008

A new training effort aims to help medical education faculty distinguish between certified and promotional CME.

Congress presses FDA, Bayer on DTC info, OTC combos

Matthew Arnold October 15, 2008

Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak (both D-MI) wrote the FDA to question its use of a pharma PR firm in developing a website about DTC advertising for consumers.

Top 20% of endocrinologists write lion's share of new oral diabetes scripts: SDI

Ben Comer October 14, 2008

Identifying physicians who drive the new-to-brand market in a given category — prior to developing a marketing strategy - allows marketers to save time and money by avoiding docs with tin ears.

Wanted: smarter reps, says survey

Matthew Arnold September 29, 2008

A snap survey of physicians found a yearning for smarter sales reps who know their disease states back and forth and can use clinical studies in their details.

Merck brings contract sales reps onboard

Anthony Vecchione September 22, 2008

Merck announced a strategic partnership with inVentiv Health, whereby Merck will utilize inVentiv's contract sales staff to supplement Merck's in-house sales force.

ACCME proposals imperil CME, critics say

Matthew Arnold September 15, 2008

As ACCME's public comment period on a proposed restructuring of the CME funding structure drew to a close, industry groups blasted the accrediting body for what they see as an overreaction imperiling medical education.

ACCME data show commercial support for CME flat in 2007

Matthew Arnold September 09, 2008

Total commercial support of accredited CME scarcely budged in 2007, rising 1% to $1.2 billion, while the share of commercial support going to publishing and education companies declined 4.2% to $594 million, according to the ACCME's annual report.

Verispan acquired by data rival SDI

Matthew Arnold July 29, 2008

Verispan has been bought by rival healthcare analytics firm SDI for an undisclosed price.

MM&M Awards finalists unveiled next week

James Chase July 15, 2008

The judges' scores are in for the MM&M Awards 2008 submissions and the shortlist of finalists in each category will be revealed simultaneously in News Brief and at mmm-online.com next Tuesday, July 22.

PDI seeks new CEO following Marquad retirement

Stephen McGuire June 20, 2008

Contract sales firm PDI has announced the retirement of its CEO Michael Marquard.

People news

March 25, 2008

Ogilvy Healthworld has announced the following promotions and additions to its medical education division. Ellen McCarthy was promoted to senior scientific associate from scientific associate. Michelle Goldblum moved up to account executive from assistant account executive.

People news

March 18, 2008

Stiefel Laboratories announced two senior staff promotions.

Pharma wants research partners, not data suppliers

James Chase March 18, 2008

Form true partnerships with your clients, keep them happy and make your recommendations short and sweet — that's the message from pharmaceutical companies to their marketing research suppliers and consultants, according to a new study by marketRx, a Cognizant Company.