Medical Marketing & Media back issues from August 2008:
Mix 'n' max media.(EDITOR'S DESK)
Aug 01, 2008; ... It's August. Which means the dog days of the media budget-planning season are upon us again. To mark the occasion, we invited eight longtime healthcare agency media directors to our offices to learn more about their roles, the challenges they face, their take on the future of ...
Optimizing medical education programming.(Viewpoint)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... Pharmas continuously assess promotion and education investments as the market and competitive landscape change. With representatives getting less time with doctors, promotional educational programs are one of the better opportunities to engage physicians and improve care. ...
Lunch and learn, don't dine and dash, says PhRMA.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... PHRMA REVISED its Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals to sharply limit gifts to physicians. "What we tried to do is listen to the criticisms," said PhRMA president and CEO Billy Tauzin on a conference call. "These little gifts I don't think amount to much, but ...
Pharma lobbying spend rose 32% to $168m in 2007.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... PHARMACEUTICAL industry spending on lobbying rose 32% to $168 million in 2007, according to the Center for Public Integrity. Throw in medical device and other health product manufacturers and the figure climbs to $189 million for 2007--nearly three times the $67 million the ...
Sermo docs stir pot with open letter.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... A PHYSICIANS' manifesto of sorts, composed by Sermo docs demanding an end to intrusive insurers and overzealous regulators, garnered 5,700 signatures within weeks and may herald a new means of political organizing for physicians, the site said. "There's a sense of revolution in ...
Shrinks rate Eli Lilly tops while physicians favor Pfizer.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... PSYCHIATRISTS cited Eli Lilly as the top pharma company in overall "esteem," according to a new Verispan study. Of the 422 psychiatrists surveyed in the Pharmaceutical Company Image 2008 study,43% mentioned Eli Lilly. Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Forest came in ...
A survey of 1,527 physicians found that 82% opposed a ban on provision of CME by MECCs, as proposed by the AMA's Council on Judicial and Ethical Affairs in May.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... A survey of 1,527 physicians found that 82% opposed a ban on provision of CME by MECCs, as proposed by the AMA's Council on Judicial and Ethical Affairs in May. Of the docs surveyed by Professional Postgraduate ...
LyonHeart announced the retirement of chairman and longtime principal Al Nickel.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... LyonHeart announced the retirement of chairman and longtime principal Al Nickel. Chief executive Anne Devereux will replace Nickel in that position. Nickel was a ...
Over 50% of US physicians own PDAs or other mobile devices, according to a Manhattan Research survey.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Over 50% of US physicians own PDAs or other mobile devices, according to a Manhattan Research survey. One-fifth of all physicians owning devices have used them ...
Johnson & Johnson's Concerta extended release tabs won FDA approval for treatment of ADHD in adults.(Pipeline)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Johnson & Johnson's Concerta extended release tabs won FDA approval for treatment of ADHD in adults. Concerta, a 12-hour ...
TEVA won FDA approval for the first generic versions of Risperdal tabs.(Pipeline)
Aug 01, 2008 ... TEVA won FDA approval for the first generic versions of Risperdal tabs. The branded antipsychotic, manufactured by Janssen, is used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar ...
Eisai's Aciphex won FDA approval for the short-term treatment of GERD in adolescents over 12.(Pipeline)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Eisai's Aciphex won FDA approval for the short-term treatment of GERD in adolescents over 12. Aciphex is indicated for use in adults for the short-term treatment ...
Sciele Pharma and Novo Nordisk won FDA approval for PrandiMet tabs, the first fixed dose combo of fast-acting secretagogue replaglinide (Prandin) and insulin sensitizer metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.(Pipeline)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Sciele Pharma and Novo Nordisk won FDA approval for PrandiMet tabs, the first fixed dose combo of fast-acting secretagogue replaglinide ...
FDA shifting names burden to industry.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... THE FDA EXPECTS to enroll from 25-50 firms in a two-year pilot program to test drug sponsors' ability to determine the acceptability of proprietary names for drug products-a function now performed by FDA staff--with enrollment to begin at the end of FY '09. FDA Division of ...
Sudler names two co-CEOs for US.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... SUDLER & HENNESSEY has announced the appointment of co-CEOs--Rob Rogers and Louisa Holland--to head all operations in the Americas. Rogers was the president of the agency's Asia Pacific operations from 2003 to 2006, before returning to the US as chief creative officer for North ...
Buffalo-based ad agency.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Crowley Webb and Associates took Best in Show at this year's IN AWE Awards. The shop won top honors with a b-to-b campaign, titled Have Patients, created for patient recruitment firm Praxis Communications ....
Antidote.(NEWS)(Brief article)(Column)
Aug 01, 2008; ... Regular readers of this column know that one of my major themes is to defend lifesaving effective drugs that are wrongly targeted in the media. Readers also know that, although I am on the lookout for side effects, that I never complain as much as when a concern is overhyped and turns into ...
GSK sees NRTs rebound amid Chantix fears.(NEWS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... GLAXOSMITHKLINE is seeing a "leveling off of the impact" of Chantix on sales of its behind-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) amid concerns about the safety of the smoking cessation drug. The maker of Nicorette gum, Nicoderm CQ patches and Commit lozenges said ...
PharmedOut, a pharma-bashing.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PHARMEDOUT, A PHARMA-BASHING project of the Georgetown University Medical Center, put together a "no drug reps" certificate, available for download by docs wanting to ward off pesky reps. It's suitable for framing and hanging on the office doors of the one ...
As I see it.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... As a new study finds that pharma has become Washington's largest lobby in terms of dollars spent in campaign contributions, a high-stakes battle is looming in the heat of election season over what those dollars can buy--defeat of new advertising curbs, blockage of drug imports from Canada ...
Kweder: new law slows down FDA approvals.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Aug 01, 2008; ... WHILE IT HOLDS exciting promise for protecting public health, last year's FDA Amendments Act (FDAAA) is actually slowing down new drug approvals, a key agency official warned in June. FDA Office of New Drugs Deputy director Sandra Kweder cautioned the Drug Information ...
Drug company outsource probe sought.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Aug 01, 2008; ... SEN. SHERROD Brown (DOH) wants the FDA to evaluate how it protects the American public from drug products containing tainted, outsourced ingredients. Brown says that in a recent Senate committee hearing, FDA director of drugs, Janet Woodcock, testified that US drug companies outsource ...
DDMAC responses to queries posed by drug sponsors or manufacturers regarding ad/promo issues may only be regarded as official (for legal purposes) if they are received in letter form, the division's director, Thomas Abrams says.(Update)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... DDMAC responses to queries posed by drug sponsors or manufacturers regarding ad/promo issues may only be regarded as official (for legal purposes) if they are received in letter form, the ...
An HHS Office of Inspector General report says the FDA does not approve 96% of new generic drugs reviewed during their first cycle because they contain chemistry deficiencies.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... An HHS Office of Inspector General report says the FDA does not approve 96% of new generic drugs reviewed during their first cycle because they contain chemistry ...
The number of new industry-sponsored clinical trial starts went up 12% to a record high in 2007, according to data released by Parexel International Corp.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The number of new industry-sponsored clinical trial starts went up 12% to a record high in 2007, according to data released by Parexel International ...
The FDA's assistant associate commissioner for compliance policy.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The FDA's assistant associate commissioner for compliance policy, David ...
Amid high praise, FDA's top cop quits.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Aug 01, 2008; ... CALLING IT "A tremendous loss for the agency," FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach announced in June that the impending departure after three years in the job of the agency's top enforcement officer, who had come under fierce criticism for accepting hefty bonuses and trying to close ...
Court limits False Claims Act liability for whistleblowers.(WASHINGTON INSIDER)
Aug 01, 2008; ... IN A RULING THAT provided comfort to drug companies defending dissident former employees' whistleblower suits, the US Supreme Court said in June that False Claims Act liability is limited to acts done with an intent that the government itself pay a false claim. The court held ...
The American Association for Cancer Research.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The American Association for Cancer Research (AARC) has appointed Diane ScottLichter as publisher and head of its scientific publishing division. Scott-Lichter will oversee the following ...
Oakstone Publishing has been acquired by private equity firm Boston Ventures.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Oakstone Publishing has been acquired by private equity firm Boston Ventures. Oakstone was previously owned by Haights Cross ...
Merion Publications' ADVANCE Newsmagazines has launched a new ADVANCE for Healthcare Careers website.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Merion Publications' ADVANCE Newsmagazines has launched a new ADVANCE for Healthcare Careers website. The website allows nursing and ...
A group of 12 publishers, including Elsevier, the American Society of Neuroradiology, JAMA and the Nature Publishing Group, have elected to use new plagiarism detection software called CrossCheck.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... A group of 12 publishers, including Elsevier, the American Society of Neuroradiology, JAMA and the Nature Publishing Group, have elected ...
Oncology portal registers over 12,000.(MEDIA NOTEPAD)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... ELSEVIER'S OncologySTAT portal has attracted over 12,000 registrants since its September 2007 launch. Seventy percent are physicians or healthcare professionals involved in cancer care. according to company data. The site garnered a top search ranking on Google, and that's ...
Publisher: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Circulation: 186,909.(MEDIA CHOICE)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The American Family Physician continues to provide comprehensive coverage of medical and surgical articles, keeping providers current in understanding the scientific underpinnings of the clinical problems that are encountered in the clinic. The publication has made a fairly smooth ...
Wolters Kluwer expands content.(MEDIA NOTEPAD)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... LIPPINCOTT'S Nursing Procedures and Skills has been upgraded to provide hospitals with over 200 pediatric procedures. The new version offers clinical reference and training for nurses. According to Robert Dekker, a spokesperson for the company, the point-of-care tool was ...
TV spend competes with 'demand': with fewer big, mass-market brands and pharmaceutical companies seeking cost savings all around, will video-on-demand (VOD) and other more targeted cable advertising vehicles sap spending on network TV?(MEDIA FORUM)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stephen Trask, MT SVP, group strategic planner, EvoLogue Pharma marketers need to focus resources on those channels that consumers trust and use.VOD is not mainstream now, but within the next four years the number of VOD-enabled households is ...
CBS Evening News and BusinessWeek collaborated on a series titled Doctors under the influence?(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... CBS Evening News and BusinessWeek collaborated on a series titled Doctors under the influence?, looking at whether speaking and consulting fees paid by pharmas to docs bias their ...
In an amicus brief to IMS vs. Vermont, in which IMS is challenging that state's ban on commercial provision of prescription data, the Coalition for Healthcare Communications stated.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... In an amicus brief to IMS vs. Vermont, in which IMS is challenging that state's ban on commercial provision of prescription data, the Coalition for Healthcare Communications ...
In a scathing rebuke to its assessment of conflicts of interest in CME, a trio of accrediting agencies said the Macy Foundation's assertions "reflect concerns that we, as CE accreditors, had 5-10 years ago, and noted that "Over this past decade we have made significant changes to our systems to address these concerns.".(Update)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... In a scathing rebuke to its assessment of conflicts of interest in CME, a trio of accrediting agencies said the Macy Foundation's assertions "reflect concerns that we, as CE accreditors, had 5-10 years ago, and noted that ...
Pfizer discontinues support of CME.(CME REPORT)
Aug 01, 2008; ... PFIZER WILL NO longer fund continuing medical education through med ed firms. The company, that was until recently the leading supporter of CME, said it will continue to support CME programs provided by academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, associations, medical ...
Senator blasts GlaxoSmithKline-sponsored herpes med ed.(CME REPORT)
Aug 01, 2008; ... THE CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Aging has written the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) complaining that GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Valtrex, "sponsors CME events which promote testing all pregnant women for herpes." Sen. Herb Kohl's office ...
Web watch.(DIGITAL MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... "Most companies have not evolved their marketing strategies to keep pace with the magnitude of evolution we're seeing in how physicians gather information to make clinical decisions. We've seen sizeable shifts in physician behavior in just the past three years alone--and most companies ...
Analysts lower WebMD's ratings amid competition.(DIGITAL MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... SOME WALL STREET analysts are bearish on WebMD's future, as the consumer health website faces declining ad revenues and increasing competition, they said. Goldman Sachs analyst Jennifer Watson downgraded shares of WebMD Health Corp. in June, becoming the second analyst that ...
HealthVault collaborating with AT&T.(DIGITAL MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... MICROSOFT'S HealthVault has announced a collaboration deal with communications giant AT&T and computer platform service provider Covisint that will allow patients to share medical information with participating doctors via the Internet. Through the initiative first announced in ...
ID Media has launched M.O.R.E., a local direct marketing system.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... ID Media has launched M.O.R.E., a local direct marketing system. M.O.R.E. is an acronym for Media Ordering for Regional Excellence. The system offers ...
Direct marketing agency Wunderman has acquired Designkitchen, a digital and interactive agency in Chicago.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Direct marketing agency Wunderman has acquired Designkitchen, a digital and interactive agency in Chicago. Sam ...
Williams-Labadie, a division of the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, has announced the appointment of Frank Bartco to senior account supervisor.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Williams-Labadie, a division of the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, has announced the appointment of Frank Bartco to senior account supervisor. Bartco will be responsible ...
Healthcare.com has partnered with BVK Direct.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Healthcare.com has partnered with BVK Direct. The agreement allows BVK Direct to incorporate Healthcare.com's ...
Healthline launches online ad network.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... HEALTHLINE Networks, an online healthcare information portal, has launched Healthline Media Networks, offering advertisers vertical, full-network contextual buys. According to Bill McGee, senior vice president, marketing services, the Healthline Media Network "provides DTC ...
Tablet PCs a boon for sales forces.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... USING TECHNOLOGY to aid ever-diminishing sales forces is not only a good idea, but a necessity, given the decreased opportunities to interact directly with health care professionals. For Ovation Pharmaceuticals, tablet PCs in the hospital setting have provided reps with an ...
PDI announces retirement of CEO.(DIRECT MARKETING)
Aug 01, 2008; ... CONTRACT SALES firm PDI has announced that Michael Marquard, CEO and a member of PDI's board of directors, has retired. According to a statement, Jeffrey Smith, PDI's executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer, will serve as the interim CEO. Additionally, John ...
Pfizer gathered capabilities info from its US consumer and professional advertising and PR agencies while issuing RFIs to some non-roster agencies, AdWeek reported.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Pfizer gathered capabilities info from its US consumer and professional advertising and PR agencies while issuing RFIs to some non-roster agencies, AdWeek reported. The ...
Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, who chair the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee thereof, respectively, praised Merck, Schering-Plough, Pfizer and J&J.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak (below), who chair the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee thereof, respectively, praised Merck, Schering-Plough, Pfizer and J&J for agreeing to follow AMA guidelines regarding the use of docs in ads ...
A report by West Virginia's Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council said pharmas spent $16 million on DTC advertising in the state from July 2007 through December 2007.(Update)
Aug 01, 2008 ... A report by West Virginia's Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council said pharmas spent $16 million on DTC advertising in the state from July ...
Survey: pols don't dent DTC credibility.(DTC REPORT)(Survey)
Aug 01, 2008; ... ALL THE fury over DTC drug ads emanating from Washington hasn't dented their credibility with consumers, according to Rodale's 11th annual Survey on Consumer Reaction to DTC Advertising of Prescription Drugs. The survey found little to suggest a hardening in attitudes toward ...
FTC looks into ads for genetics tests.(DTC REPORT)(Federal Trade Commission)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... THE FEDERAL Trade Commission has opened an investigation into the possible deceptive advertising and marketing of DTC genetic tests, according to The New York Times, which cited an FTC official speaking at a June 12 meeting convened by Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR). Earlier in June, ...
Pfizer is back on the air with another iteration of its My Time To Quit unbranded smoking cessation ads.(DTC REPORT)
Aug 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PFIZER IS BACK ON THE AIR WITH another iteration of its My Time To Quit unbranded smoking cessation ads. The spot, the first TV for Pfizer smoking cessation from Digitas, which won the account from Wunderman last year, plays on the key insight ...
PR view.(PUBLIC RELATIONS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... When pharmaceutical companies choose to maintain a favorable and high-profile media presence, the benefits are commercially advantageous, with measurable corporate, investor and marketing and sales impact. Today's media have become borderless in terms of global reach and access ...
Cohn & Wolfe launches global firm: GCI Health.(PUBLIC RELATIONS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... COHN & WOLFE has launched GCI Health, a global public relations firm. The move follows the merger of WPP agencies Cohn & Wolfe and GCI Group--which retained the Cohn & Wolfe name after the merger--in early July. GCI Health's New York City headquarters currently has 60 ...
CCC unveils new compliance portal.(PUBLIC RELATIONS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... RESPONDING TO THE billions of dollars in industry fines paid under the False Claims Act, the Center for Communication Compliance (CCC) launched a new online compliance portal. Chaired by former FDA employee Wayne Pines, the CCC portal offers regulatory compliance tests (RCTs) ...
Vantage point.(MARKETING RESEARCH)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... As I write this, I have just returned from The Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence and Research Group annual general meeting in Washington, DC. In my time there, I learned two related, obvious but important, pieces of information that set me back on my heels. Of the almost 400 ...
Burgeoning senior ranks face gaps in healthcare.(MARKETING RESEARCH)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... AS BABY boomers transition into their 50s and 60s, a once complacent segment of the healthcare market is taking matters into its own hands. According to David Dierk, president of Pinnacle Health Communications and The American System for Advancing Senior Health, "seniors have ...
Decision Resources grows portfolio.(MARKETING RESEARCH)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008; ... DECISION RESOURCES has acquired Manhattan Research. The move will expand Decision Resources' global physician and consumer digital market research portfolio, according to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed to the public. "Part of Decision Resources' big ...
Firms fret as Pfizer shifts its CME support.(IN FOCUS)
Aug 01, 2008; ... PFIZER'S announcement that it would no longer support accredited CME programs directly through commercial providers has beleaguered medical education and communication companies (MECCs) scrambling. Pfizer announced that it would henceforth support CME programs at academic ...
WebMD management expects growth despite challenges.(WALL STREET CHOICE)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Corey Tobin William Blair & Company Stock: WebMD Health Corp. Price: $34.41 52 -week: ($22-$63) Rating: Market Perform William Blair & Company hosted WebMD CEO Wayne Gattinella and CFO Mark Funston at its 28th annual Growth Stock Conference. The presentation was upbeat regarding ...