Category Archives: Working in the industry

Astra Zeneca: double talk and layoffs

Posted on February 2, 2012 | 1 Comment

AstraZeneca announced that it will cut its global workforce by approximately 7300 positions in an effort to deliver a further $1.6 billion in cost savings by the end of 2014. According to AstraZeneca, approximately 3750 positions will be affected by the programme across its selling, general and administrative functions, with a further 2200 jobs being cut from its R&D operations but CEO David Brennan noted we remain committed to a long-term, focused, R&D based strategy. Ha ? Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged AstraZeneca

The best skill any DTC marketer can have

Posted on December 29, 2011 | 1 Comment

This is the time when a lot of DTC marketers are going to get their reviews and find out if they are doing what is best for their careers or best for patients and consumers. While there is a lot of talk about making good sound business decisions I would argue that the best skill ANY marketer can have it the ability to look at their product or brand as a consumers and ask “why?”. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Business, Consumer, DTC, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Pharmaceutical industry, Social media, Television advertisement

If you are pissing people off, you know you are doing something right

Posted on December 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

Well it’s that time of year when a lot of DTC marketers wrap up and go home for the holidays. Time to decompress from all the meetings, politics, research and politics. Those of you who read my BLOG on a regular basis know that I tend to “tell it like it is”, or at least like I see it. There are a lot of very good people and agencies out there that care and know that changes need to be made but we need more Linchpins within the industry if we are going to make a difference to consumers who want to make better, well educated health choices. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged DTC, Marketing

Why I know Lilly is going to be OK

Posted on December 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

I worked at Eli Lilly and Company for 5 years and I learned a hell of lot. The people at Lilly gave me the tools I needed to succeed for my brand team(s). Even though Lilly is going through a challenging time right now I have no doubt that the company will come out of this storm stronger and better than before. Continue reading →

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Posted in Business of the drug industry, Working in the industry

Tagged Cialis, Doug Wilson, Eli Lilly, Eli Lilly and Company, Fluoxetine, Lilly, Markets, Prozac

How can pharma innovate without new blood ?

Posted on September 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

Great post on Twitter yesterday from Jonathan Richman yesterday when he said “Not nearly enough people raised their hand when asked if they look outside healthcare for innovation ideas.” With companies like Merck continuing to layoff thousands of people one has to wonder who is going to be left to innovate marketing at a time when pharma marketing is in dire need of innovation ? Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged AIDS, Facebook, Innovation, Marketing, Sanofi-Aventis, Twitter

Good DTC marketers don’t look for recognition

Posted on August 22, 2011 | 4 Comments

I know a lot of people in the pharma marketing business and I have to say that none of them are in DTC marketing because they are looking for “recognition”. They are in the business, for the most part, because it offers them a challenge and they believe in what they are doing. If you’re looking for recognition and for a lot of pats on the back you’re not only in the wrong industry you’re in the wrong profession. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Business, Facebook, Hollywood, Jonathan Richman, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Mental health, Social media

Time to change the biopharma organization

Posted on August 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

My post last week on the challenge of retaining people resulted in a lot of great feedback and comments. Before biopharma companies can better compete in an era of changing healthcare it has to look inward at the organization first and foremost. To many big biopharma organizations have way too many layers (matrix organization) to compete today. They have to not only attract game changing talent they also need people who can ask “why are we doing it this way ?” Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Borg, Business, Facebook, Health care, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Pharmaceutical industry, Sales

How can pharma attract talent when they continue to shed employees ?

Posted on August 12, 2011 | 6 Comments

As suspected Pfizer has started laying off salespeople as Lipitor faces patent expiration. Merck is still laying off people and Lilly has plans to reduce its workforce in Indianapolis. When companies loose sales the way pharma companies are loosing products because of patent expiration there isn’t much choice but to make organizations smaller. However we all should remember that in this economy that meeting with their managers can be devastating to employees and their families. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Atorvastatin, Business, Employment, Food and Drug Administration, Indianapolis, Patent, Pfizer, Pharmaceutical lobby

Cleaning up an agency mess

Posted on August 4, 2011 | 2 Comments

A couple of month ago I got a call from a frantic client who needed help with their interactive agency. It seems that their eMarketing person had quit and left a lot of open projects with the agency and that the VP was at a loss to try and make head or tales out of what was happening and what was paid for. As I started to dive into the pile of over 46 invoices I could not believe what I was seeing, $15,000 to do a simple Photoshop redo of an image ? It started me on a rant about agencies and agency people that was evident to most readers of this website. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Advertising agency, Advertising and Marketing, Business, Invoice

The definition of irony thanks to Merck

Posted on August 4, 2011 | 1 Comment

The ad states “I am not a segment, I am not a demographic, I am not a patient. I am person”. This was the ad on NBC Nightly News replay via their website but the problem is that the segment was on layoffs and right at the top was Merck with 13,000 layoffs. So while consumers are not a demographic or market segment employees are just numbers to be cut as business continues to decline for big pharma. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Business, Layoff, Merck, Merck & Co, NBC Nightly News, Pharmaceutical lobby, Schering-Plough, Wall Street

Help Wanted: Some innovative DTC marketers

Posted on August 2, 2011 | 1 Comment

Frustrated employees are voluntarily quitting their jobs at the highest level in almost three years as confidence they will find another stabilizes, even with unemployment at about 9 percent for more than two years. Almost 2 million Americans quit their jobs in May, a 35 percent rise from the lowest level in January 2010, according to the Department of Labor. Over the past year I have seen some very good marketing people leave healthcare marketing because they have had their fill. Why is this happening and what does it mean ? Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Business, Chris Van Hollen, Employment, Innovation, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Pharmaceutical lobby, United States