SUMMARY: Those working in pharma know that ageism exists, especially in the sales force. Pharma has been purging older employees for some time, and when you reach the magic age of 50+, you’re going to be pushed to take “early retirement.”
Category Archive: Working in the industry
SUMMARY: I believe the biggest challenge facing pharma companies doesn’t come from legislation or R&D. It comes from being able to recruit and hold onto people who have a passion for the industry and get discouraged by a culture of endless meetings and matrix decision making. Here are some suggestions on how, I believe, pharma can attract and keep great employees.
SUMMARY: You should never choose an agency based on size. It should be because they are a good fit with your brand team and can take your digital marketing to the next level while ensuring that everything they do is best in class.
SUMMARY: Pharma marketing is in a funk. Somewhere over the last decade, the passionate people who believed that helping patients was the first step in excellent marketing have been replaced with people who want to know the ROI of everything. We need to hire people who have a passion for learning, exploring, and implementing great patient-centered marketing. One employee who is passionate about what they do is worth more than five who “check off the boxes” for their position.
SUMMARY: The biggest barrier to great healthcare marketing is corporate politics. As more companies merge or are bought out big bureaucratic processes run counter to what online marketing is all about. Those people who are willing to disrupt pharma cultures will have a great career but it takes time, effort, and empathy for patients to make changes.
SUMMARY:
- Older, more experienced employees are being shoved aside in favor of more inexperienced ones.
- The culture within pharma is driving people away, including new hires.
- More and more meetings are based on ROI, not the voice of the patient.
- Don’t hire people who want big salaries; hire people who want to be part of an industry that helps patients.
- CEOs need to realign their company culture.
SUMMARY:
- The Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Energy and Commerce is investigating the approval process for Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s drug.
- Janet Woodcock acknowledged on Wednesday her agency may have misstepped in the handling of its polarizing approval of a new Alzheimer’s drug.
- Biogen undertook a secret campaign, termed Project Onyx, to persuade FDA to approve Aduhelm.
- Biogen’s reputation may be damaged beyond repair.
SUMMARY:
- There is a talent drain at the agency and DTC levels.
- More experienced DTC people are being forced to retire.
- TV still gets the biggest share of DTC budgets, but they don’t drive brand objectives.
- Talented marketers don’t want a career in pharma because of the culture.