Medical Marketing & Media back issues from February 2007:
Trust: mission possible?(EDITOR'S DESK)(Editorial)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Remember when President Bush pulled an iPod from his holster and fired off a few of rounds of his favorite digital tunes to a grateful gaggle of news reporters? Unfortunately, this potentially fabulous PR stunt lost its momentum as soon as the awkwardly cast Bush began his ungainly meander ...
Making old drugs new.(Viewpoint)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... A few years ago, language expert William Safire coined the word "retronym" to identify words that through evolution had lost their original meaning and that therefore now needed qualification. An example cited was "acoustic guitar," because the default image of a guitar had become an ...
Merck engages in customer-focused reorganization.(NEWS)(Merck & Company Inc.)
Feb 01, 2007; ... MERCK IS restructuring its commercial organization along global lines and has named its first chief marketing officer. Wendy Yarno will serve as chief marketing officer, reporting to Peter Loescher, president, global human health. Yarno, who has held a variety of sales, ...
For Rozerem DTC campaign, it's steady as she goes.(NEWS)(Direct To Consumer)
Feb 01, 2007; ... CONSUMERS WILL see more of Honest Abe this year, despite lackluster sales of Rozerem. "If there's a theme, it's steady growth and keeping the strategy that we have," said Paul Boidy, director of neuroscience marketing for Takeda Pharmaceutical North America. The ...
ACCME answers Senate's CME probe.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PRODDED BY the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) delivered a 14-page defense of its efforts to ensure CME is independent. On Dec. 19, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) sent a letter to the ACCME ...
FDA approvals down, early stage pipelines filling up.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... WHILE THE number of new FDA approvals by big pharma has declined this decade, the rate of compounds entering testing is on the upswing, notes a report. The FDA approved only 17 new drugs last year and 20 the previous year. The ebb marks a fresh low in the number of new drug ...
The health subcommittee.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The health subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will be chaired by New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, a ...
Quadrant HealthCom.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Quadrant HealthCom snapped up five titles from Jobson Healthcare Group, including Clinician ...
Reliant Pharmaceuticals.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Reliant Pharmaceuticals has named former Merck US Human Health president Bradley Sheares chief executive. He succeeds ...
The House of Representatives.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The House of Representatives passed legislation mandating government negotiation of drug prices for Medicare recipients. The bill would strike the ...
MedImmune's new refrigerated formulation of FluMist (influenza virus vaccine, intranasal.(Pipeline)
Feb 01, 2007 ... MedImmune's new refrigerated formulation of FluMist (influenza virus vaccine, intranasal) ...
The exclusivity period for Pfizer's Zoloft is set to expire this month.(Pipeline)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The exclusivity period for Pfizer's Zoloft is set to expire this month. That means generics firm Ivax Pharmaceu-ticals may be ...
Pfizer's Slentrol.(Pipeline)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Pfizer's Slentrol (dirlotapide) was approved by the FDA for the management of obesity ...
The FDA has approved Janssen's Invega (paliperidone) extended-release tablets, a new atypical antipsychotic.(Pipeline)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The FDA has approved Janssen's Invega (paliperidone) extended-release tablets, a new atypical antipsychotic. The medication ...
BioForm Medical's Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres), a cosmetic dermal filler for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, was approved by the FDA.(Pipeline)
Feb 01, 2007 ... BioForm Medical's Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres), a cosmetic dermal filler for the correction of moderate to severe ...
Lexapro gains ease fears of generics.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LOSS OF PATENT protection on Pfizer's Zoloft last year caused analysts to raise warning flags about the whole class. But the surprisingly strong performance of Forest Labs' Lexapro brought reassuring news. Forest said last month that Lexapro earned $545.9 million for the three ...
Acting FDA deputy commish named.(NEWS)(Food and Drug Administration appoints Randall Lutter )(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... FDA COMMISSIONER Andrew von Eschenbach named Randall Lutter to serve as acting deputy commissioner for policy, replacing Scott Gottlieb, who left the agency last month to rejoin the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Lutter was most recently associate commissioner of policy and planning ....
Eisai Research Institute.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: EISAI RESEARCH INSTITUTE, an R&D subsidiary of the Tokyo pharma firm, opened a 150,000-square-foot facility at its Andover, MA, site, where compounds for the treatment of severe sepsis and advanced, refractory breast ...
Antidote.(NEWS)(side-effects of proton-pump inhibitors )
Feb 01, 2007; ... As a medical journalist, I receive advanced notice of many studies. As soon as I saw that the Journal of the American Medical Association was about to publish a big study from Britain which showed an almost 50% increase in hip fractures in elderly patients taking the stomach drugs Nexium, ...
IFPMA revised code to 'help industry reputation'.(NEWS)(International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association )(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PHARMA COMPANIES belonging to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association (IFPMA) must now adhere to a revised ethics code barring them from giving physicians money or gifts that might influence drug choices. The 21-page code, updated on Jan. 1 ...
Merck KGAA completed its acquisition of a majority share in Serono and relaunched the firm as Merc Serono SA, a Geneva-based subsidiary, with 14,500 employees, pro forma sales of 3.6 billion euros (4.6 billion) and 28 products in the pipeline.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: MERCK KGAA COMPLETED its acquisition of a majority share in Serono and relaunched the firm as Merc Serono SA, a Geneva-based subsidiary, with 14,500 employees, pro forma sales of 3.6 billion euros (4.6 billion) and 28 ...
As I see it.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Feb 01, 2007; ... The Democratic Congressional majority's "first 100 hours" of unilateral legislative action before it goes bipartisan includes only one drug item--giving the government price negotiating authority for Medicare drugs. After that, a whole range of industry issues will be on a more flexible ...
Admen: fixing DDMAC is more vital than user fees.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Feb 01, 2007; ... THE COALITION for Healthcare Communication says it's too soon to talk about user fees to fund ad reviews through the FDA's DDMAC. An agreement reportedly reached between industry and the FDA would provide $6.25 million in user fees in fiscal year 2008 to fund review of TV spots before they ...
People want drug industry oversight.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)(Survey)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... US ADULTS WANT information on and oversight of the drug industry, according to a recent Harris Poll. Poll officials said 71% of adults surveyed believe it is very important or highly important that marketed drugs remain under close review by the FDA and drug companies. Only nine percent of ...
The deaths of two women being treated with Genentech's Rituxan (rituximab) for systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported to the FDA.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The deaths of two women being treated with Genentech's Rituxan (rituximab) for systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported to ...
The FDA intends to take enforcement action against unapproved drug products.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The FDA intends to take enforcement action against unapproved drug products containing quinine ...
Labopharm says it is seeking formal FDA dispute resolution proceedings.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Labopharm says it is seeking formal FDA dispute resolution proceedings to counter an approvable letter from the ...
The first US generic.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The first US generic form of GlaxoSmithKline's Wellbutrin XL has been approved by the FDA. Anchen ...
The FDA has proposed rules revisions intended to expand the availability of experimental drugs.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The FDA has proposed rules revisions intended to expand the availability of experimental ...
White House fights Plan B subpoena.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)(emergency contraceptive Plan B)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... AS THE BUSH White House vigorously resisted a Center for Reproductive Rights subpoena demanding internal documents that might show its involvement in the FDA's review of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, the center released a court deposition in which a key FDA official said it was ...
FDA not utilizing its advisory system.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PUBLIC CITIZEN SAYS an analysis of FDA advisory committee meetings between January 1997 and last July found the agency is making suboptimum use of its advisory committee system. Writing in the December 23 issue of Lancet, Public Citizen said a declining minority of products up for approval ...
The Association of Medical Publications.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The Association of Medical Publications named Ascend Media VP, medical group Linda Fox to succeed NEJM advertising head Art Wilschek as ...
MediZine.(Update)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... MediZine has added Eileen Bruno, Brooks Crandall and Jamie Blocher to its sales team. Bruno will serve as VP, sales and marketing for MDminute working with Blocher, ...
Longtime medical publisher Thomas Jones died Dec. 14 at the age of 81.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Longtime medical publisher Thomas Jones died Dec. 14 at the age of 81. Jones was the creator and original publisher of journals including ...
Wiley.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Wiley is launching a bimonthly summary of medical research for hospitalists titled InfoPOEMs (Patient-Oriented Evidence ...
NEJM spiked conflicts op/ed, says WSJ.(MEDIA NOTEPAD)(New England Journal of Medicine)(Wall Street Journal)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... THE NEW ENGLAND Journal of Medicine pulled an article slamming the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) for its reliance on drug company donations, according to The Wall Street Journal. The article in question, an opinion piece by NEJM correspondent Dr. Robert Steinbrook, was ...
Publicis acquires Digitas for $1.3b.(MEDIA NOTEPAD)
Feb 01, 2007; ... IN A MOVE indicative of the shift toward digital promotion, Publicis Healthcare's parent is buying Medical Broadcasting Company owner Digitas, Inc. for $1.3 billion. Publicis cited projections that digital and interactive spending will account for 10% of global communications ...
David Mathews, MD, PhD, Dept. of biochemistry and biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine.(MEDIA CHOICE)(Nucleic Acids Research)(Periodical review)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... I particularly enjoy reading Nucleic Acids Research (NAR). It is revolutionizing journals because it is fully open access. So, it takes the traditional publishing model of accepting or rejecting journal articles and selling subscriptions to fund the journal and instead authors and ...
Search engines play significant role: search data show that many of the most heavily searched brands online are not among the most-advertised. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a potent DTP channel, but how should it be integrated into a media schedule?(MEDIA FORUM)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Deitra Mara Health operations specialist Google Sleep aids were the top spenders in 2006, but antidepressants placed better among top search queries (Hitwise, Aug. 2006; ClickZ, Aug. 2006). This may not mean the relationship between promotion and search ...
ACCME.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... ACCME vowed to answer a new inquiry from the Senate Finance Committee by the Jan. 22 deadline. At press time, ACCME ...
Alliance for CME.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... James Leist, EdD, has been named interim executive director of the Alliance for CME, taking over for Bruce ...
American Society of Hypertension.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The American Society of Hypertension will host a debate on conflicts of interest at its annual meeting, ...
NC-CME.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Jack Kues, PhD, head of CME, University of Cincinnati, is the new president of NCCME. He ...
[Med ed] Planners.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... "[Med ed] Planners must learn how to balance stakeholder interests by applying democratic principles in negotiating educational, political, and ...
Meetings barred from five-star hotels.(CME REPORT)
Feb 01, 2007; ... INTERNATIONAL meeting planners may be chafing this month from a new rule barring pharmaceutical companies from supporting educational events at luxury venues. But in the US, where reform has been under way for a decade, it's expected to have minimal impact. The International ...
Roche hires med ed czar.(CME REPORT)(Roche Biomedical Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... BRIAN RUSSELL, RPh, MBA, has been hired as director of medical education for Roche Laboratories--a new position--the company said. Russell reports to Jean Fagan, MS.ED, MPH, leader, US scientific communications. The job represents a change in direction for Russell, ...
GSK: story 'unfair'.(CME REPORT)(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... GLAXOSMITHKLINE'S director of CME took exception with a Wall Street Journal report on GSK-funded med ed. The December 2006 article asserts that GSK paid for a series of lectures by doctors who favor universal screening and treatment of pregnant women for genital herpes (MM&M, ...
Web watch.(E-MARKETING)(HealthCentral Network )(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... The online health space is hotter than high school love right now. The people at WebMD must be looking over their shoulder. Yahoo! Health and MSN Health are already attracting large audiences of health seekers and their early entry into the online health space has allowed them ...
Merck takes e-focused approach to marketing.(E-MARKETING)
Feb 01, 2007; ... MERCK IS EMBRACING its approach to scale back DTC television advertising for new drugs in favor of a more targeted, e-focused approach. Merck's president of global human health, Peter Loescher, said changes in viewer habits and awareness of a more cost-effective use of ...
New iVillage site offers 'Dr. Mom' tools.(E-MARKETING)(www.health.ivillage.com)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NBC UNIVERSAL'S iVillage Properties has launched a new consumer online health destination targeting women and their families. The Web site called iVillage Total Health can be found at www.health.ivillage.com. "We plan to work with a number of pharmaceutical companies ...
Redi-Direct Marketing.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Redi-Direct Marketing has acquired NY-based Dialog Group, including the firm's Healthcare Dialog ...
Victory Pharma.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Victory Pharma has inked a deal with Hi-Tech Pharmacal for exclusive US commercial license rights to its Naprelan (naproxen sodium) formulation for the treatment of ...
Pfizer.(Update)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Pfizer's late 2006 sales force realignment has left the door open for other drug firms to re-evaluate their own resource levels. "Expect to see several companies follow suit in 2007," ...
Acorda Therapeutics.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Acorda Therapeutics has completed the expansion of its sales force to 65 people, with 52 area business managers, calling on specialists and ...
Advair sales strategy shifting in 2007.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Feb 01, 2007; ... GLAXOSMITHKLINE is shifting its sales force strategy for therapy Advair to stress treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new report stated. Advair, a long-acting beta2 agonist combined with an inhaled corticosteroid is GSK's best-selling drug. ...
Sales reps sue over unpaid overtime.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Feb 01, 2007; ... THOUSANDS OF pharmaceutical sales reps have filed a series of class action lawsuit claims against their former employers seeking tens of millions of dollars in back pay. The claims were filed in New York, California, New Jersey and Connecticut on behalf of reps from across the ...
New reps receive 184 hours training.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Feb 01, 2007; ... NEWLY HIRED pharmaceutical sales reps can expect to receive an average of 184 training hours during their first year on the job, a recent study from business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Research found. Self-study activities, such as use of reading materials, workbooks, CDs ...
Sepracor.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Sepracor appointed Rob Ciappenelli to replace Tim Healey as head of its CNS portfolio, which includes the company's Lunesta franchise, ...
The Government Accountability Office.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The Government Accountability Office ripped the FDA for lax policing of DTC advertising, saying the agency was slow to act on dubious drug ads ...
A survey of 500 consumers, 150 physicians and industry officials by PricewaterhouseCooper found that only 10% of physicians and consumers think that DTC ads provides complete and useful info.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A survey of 500 consumers, 150 physicians and industry officials by PricewaterhouseCooper found that only 10% of ...
A Consumer Reports survey of primary care physicians on DTC TV advertising found that 78% said they are asked by patients for specific drugs they've seen advertised on TV and 67% said they sometimes grant those requests.(Update)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A Consumer Reports survey of primary care physicians on DTC TV advertising found that 78% said they are asked by patients for specific ...
Drug firms boost DTC ad spend in '06.(DTC REPORT)
Feb 01, 2007; ... LED BY THE sleep aid category, drug firms upped consumer advertising by a healthy margin in 2006, data from advertising intelligence firms show. Through October, the spending level for all prescription drugs was on pace for an 8% hike over the first 10 months of 2006, to $3.82 ...
FDA would up PDUFA for DTC reviews.(DTC REPORT)(Prescription Drug User Fee Act)(Food and Drug Administration)(direct-to-consumer )(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... THE FDA SAYS it needs 27 additional staff to review DTC TV ads, and projects related user fees of $6.2 million in 2008. The agency called for a separate new user fee program to cover DTC TV ad reviews in its proposed outline for reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee ...
PR view.(PUBLIC RELATIONS)
Feb 01, 2007; ... Pharma companies are not the friendliest to the media. At PRWeek, we encountered an exception recently, when Bristol-Myers Squibb invited our new healthcare reporter on a media tour of the company's new oncology facilities, along with reporters from major business dailies and weeklies. It ...
Pfizer diabetes program improves health outcome.(PUBLIC RELATIONS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... PFIZER HEALTH Solutions is taking its diabetes patient education program Amigos en Salud/ Friends in Health national after a four-city pilot showed significant improvements in health outcomes among diabetes patients. The program, aimed at helping African American and Hispanic ...