Category Archives: Working in the industry

Time for the drug industry to get serious about digital marketing

Posted on May 3, 2012 | 10 Comments

With so many people using the Internet for health information and other mass channels having less impact on conversion it’s time for pharma organizations to get serous about digital marketing. Here is how pharma should organize around digital marketing. Continue reading →

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

Tagged Digital marketing, emarketing

The top headlines in healthcare news this week

Posted on March 16, 2012 | 5 Comments

British experts at the world’s biggest artificial joint registry said doctors should stop using metal-on-metal hip replacements, citing an analysis showing they have to be fixed or replaced more often than other implants. Continue reading →

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Posted in Weekly news mash-up, Working in the industry

Tagged Marketing

Pharma hit by talent shortage

Posted on February 28, 2012 | 2 Comments

According to a PWC Report: Finding people with the right skills is getting harder. 51% of pharma and life sciences CEOs say it’s become more difficult to hire suitably qualified workers. Middle managers with the potential to rise to the top are in particularly short supply. Really? Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Digital marketing, Marketing

Help wanted: Must be willing to be told “we can’t do that because we’re a regulated industry”

Posted on February 21, 2012 | 4 Comments

This week I talked to several executives at various agencies that work with biopharma to see if they were getting more work and the answer was “yes”. That might seem like good news for agencies but the reason that are seem to be getting more work is that the talent pool within biopharma companies has been drained and people who are entering the work force don’t want to work in pharma. Continue reading →

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Posted in Working in the industry

Tagged Digital marketing, Marketing

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