Medical comms - Articles

Shaping the New Health Economy
Perhaps no industry is undergoing more change than the pharmaceutical industry at present. Advances in technology, sweeping new regulations, a rapid shift in business models, and the empowerment of consumers are all having a dramatic impact on the industry and the core competencies required for health companies to succeed. These changes translate into new strategies, new markets, new services, and new processes – and ultimately new projects.A key to navigating such complexities and to developing repeatable success is to find an informed perspective that can help organisations swiftly respond to challenges and best position themselves for the future. Everyone wins when project execution is given a clean bill of health. Proving Business Value for Your Learning I…

So far this year the total figure for global pharma transactions has reached $140bn, representing 13% of total M&A activity and second only to the technology sector in terms of the value of deals. Had Pfizer’s bid been successful it would have been the biggest acquisition the pharmaceuticals world had ever seen.
The huge increase in mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals sector shows no sign of slowing. Pfizer’s recent attempt to perform an $118bn takeover of British drugmaker AstraZeneca may have been ultimately unsuccessful, but this kind of deal is becoming more and more common in the industry.So far this year the total figure for global pharma transactions has reached $140bn, representing 13% of total M&A activity and second only to the technology sector in terms of the val…

Tendering is moving centre stage in the European Life Sciences marketplace. A recent Model N poll confirmed how businesses are aware of the growing importance of tendering and want to improve their performance. Many senior managers (51%) recognise the need to excel in an increasingly competitive tendering environment. A similar number (54%) point to its importance in increasing competitive intelligence, gaining a better understanding of what the customer wants and how competitors are responding.
Yet most continue to see it as a lengthy and essentially administrative process, with fewer than one in five recognising tendering as an opportunity to differentiate the business on value rather than just price. As a result, almost three quarters of respondents maintain a manually-based and departme…

A Cultural Fit?
A bad "cultural fit" is one of the main reasons that new employees move on within their first year. So when you're job hunting, remind yourself to ask the question - is this organisation's environment a good fit for me?A couple of questions up your sleeve if you get to the interview stage can be very useful to explore the suitability. "Why is this position available?" This should give you some insight into the previous employee's career progression or dissatisfaction."Can you describe the work environment?" this should help you find out a bit about the management style at the organisation.Also, if you get the chance, connect with current or past employees through social media (preferably privately). You'd be surprised how open people can be about this – both good and bad!Fin…

Generic vs. Brand Name Drugs: The Outlook 2014-2016
Find out more: http://www.statsols.com/

The MdS is ranked by the Discovery Channel as the toughest footrace on earth. The MdS is a multi-day ‘ultra-marathon’ or ‘ultra’ run in six days over a course of between 150 and 156 (254km) miles.
Name: Kate EversoleDOB: 15.01.1985Occupation: Founder & Head of Partnerships. PatientsCreate www.patientscreate.com (Soon to be wwwcreatehealth.io)Fitness history: Ummm as a kid/uni gymnastics, netball, hockey. Following uni:Bikram, Crossfit and running. I’ve completed 1 marathon – London in 2012 with a time of 3hrs 42mins.Who the heck am I? I’m your average 29 year girl living in London, trying to complete the most un average challenge of a life time. I weight 52kg and I’m about 5ft 2. I’ve been a size 6-8 since I was about 12 until now…I think its fair to say I love a good rave. Ta…

Innovation Prize 2014 : Call for proposal is now open !
Universal Biotech and its partners are proud to announce that the call for proposal for the 6th edition of the Innovation Prize is now open! The prize rewards innovative projects in the following fields: Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, Medical Technologies and e-health solutions.Last year it rewarded Professor Richard Pleass from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and his Hexagard project.The call for proposal is open to academic researchers and young SMEs (under 10 years). Registration is now available online at: www.universal-biotech-prize.comIn short: When ? Call for proposal starts February 3rd and ends April 19th Prize ? 50 000 € in cash and consulting servicesAwarding ceremony : October 6th 2014 during the Innovation Da…

Most of us have heard the saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Is it true?
Most of us have heard the saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Is it true? Statistics vary depending on source and location, but it’s safe to say that over 50% of jobs are found through networking. There are several reasons why networking is critical to your job search.People do business primarily with people they know and like. Resumes and cover letters alone are often too impersonal to convince employers to hire you.Hiring managers are hiring because they are extremely busy. They typically prioritize by first interviewing candidates who have been referred by trusted colleagues, rather than using scarce time to sift through piles of resumes from strangers.Job listings tend to draw…

Analysis showing the extent to which the NHS is prescribing NICE recommended medicines is published today.
*HSCIC must be quoted as the source of these figures*Regional and local breakdowns availableUse of NICE-appraised medicines in the NHS in England – 2012, experimental statistics is published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and reports on the use of medicines that have been appraised by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as an option for the treatment of a disease or condition.This is the fourth in a series of reports which covers five years in total. Today’s report also contains additional analysis to allow the inclusion of medicines for which an expected level of usage cannot be calculated, for instance because it is not possible to relia…

Pharma, biotech and medical devices organisations across South East Asia are at risk of losing over three quarters of their best people in the year ahead, according to a new report published by Real.
Pharma, biotech and medical devices organisations across South East Asia are at risk of losing over three quarters of their best people in the year ahead, according to a new report published by Real.The research highlights that whilst confidence surrounding job security is higher than at any time in recent years, this confidence has led many to consider looking elsewhere, posing a potential threat to organisations as they look to build long-term sustainable workforces to support future growth plans. This trend is not just restricted to South East Asia either, but mirrors the perceptions of empl…

Job hunting can seem like a full time job itself. The first step to getting organised is taking the time to develop a career strategy to determine know what kinds of jobs you think you might like to apply for.
Job hunting can seem like a full time job itself. The first step to getting organised is taking the time to develop a career strategy to determine know what kinds of jobs you think you might like to apply for. By getting organised before you commence job hunting, then there will be no surprises along the way. 1. Create time Assess how much time you have to dedicate to job hunting. If you have minimal time available, then you may have to re-prioritise areas of your life in order to create some time. There is no guarantee that the more time you dedicate to job hunting the fast…

Is the Pharmaceutical Sector facing a Leadership Skills Gap?
It is no secret that there is a shortage of professional skill sets in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector, and nowhere is this more keenly felt than in the area of Biostatistics where experienced professionals are in demand all across Europe.  One of the results of this shortage is that employers have to become more innovative in how they attract and retain talent which has led to initiatives around flexible work /life balance arrangements such as home based working positions.  However, while on the surface these employment policies would be seen as laudable, could they also be storing up trouble for the future?  Could pharmaceutical professionals be potentially damaging their long term career development?&…

Routes beyond the NHS: do you know your options?
For NHS staff the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry can have a real appeal when it comes to a career move. Not only is there the chance to really make an impact within future healthcare developments, but this route also allows the opportunity to see projects through to completion – a satisfying aspect that isn’t always available within the public sector.However, with such a variety of options within pharma it can be a struggle to identify just which role is the best route for you. With skills requirements varying from the highly process orientated pharmacovigilance role to the well-developed  people skills required of medical affairs staff, it’s vital to know which route is best for you. So what do businesses look for when fillin…

What does a Clinical Trial Manager (CTM) do?
Typically, a Clinical Trial Manager: Reports to, and receives instructions from, the Clinical Project Manager (CPM); Supervises and coaches the Clinical Data Manager and Clinical Research Associate ; Implements and monitors clinical trials which have been approved by management; Periodically visits clinical trial investigators and provides them with their needs, such as Case Report Forms (CRF), drug samples, and stipends; Collects CRFs and checks their completeness and accuracy; Assists clinical trial investigators in writing the final technical report; Performs other duties that may be assigned by the CPM. Graduate of life sciences, such as medicine, nursing, physical therapy, psychology, pharmacy, biology, zoology, and medical technology; Pre…

Yes- A recent case has highlighted that the conduct of a claimant, post termination, can reduce their compensation award following a successful unfair dismissal claim. We report on this case.
Yes- A recent case has highlighted that the conduct of a claimant, post termination, can reduce their compensation award following a successful unfair dismissal claim. We report on this case.FactsIn Cumbria County Council v Bates, the Claimant, Mr Bates was a teacher who was unfairly dismissed by Cumbria County Council. Following his unfair dismissal Mr Bates faced a charge of common assault against one of his former female pupils. At the remedy stage of tribunal proceedings the Council requested an adjournment on the basis that Mr Bates’ conviction could substantially alter his future employment p…

Gold Group and PharmiWeb.com collaborated on a Pharma survey in 2013 to analyse the market and understand the candidates working within it.
Gold Group and PharmiWeb.com collaborated on a Pharma survey in 2013 to analyse the market and understand the candidates working within it. Over 1000 professionals responded with their views and insight to provide a strong overview. The results were very impressive, we thank every respondent for ensuring the survey was as successful as it was.Some of the key insight gathered from the survey included: Almost half of permanent professionals have been in their role for less than a year Over a half of contract professionals have been in their role for under a year 95% of professionals work between 30 and 49 hours per week 3 quarters of professionals work le…

Injecting cutaneous lesions in Stage III-IV melanoma patients refractory to other treatments with PV-10 provides a viable strategy to maintain long-term locoregional control, concluded the final analysis of an open label single arm phase 2 trial presented at the 2013 European Cancer Congress, 27 September to 1 October, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Injecting cutaneous lesions in Stage III-IV melanoma patients refractory to other treatments with PV-10 provides a viable strategy to maintain long-term locoregional control, concluded the final analysis of an open label single arm phase 2 trial presented at the 2013 European Cancer Congress, 27 September to 1 October, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The study furthermore showed that both the number of lesions injected and presence of blistering was p…

Leading pharma, biotech and medical devices organisations are contributing to a global survey to understand the challenges associated with recruiting, retaining and mobilising talent globally
Leading pharma, biotech and medical devices organisations are contributing to a global survey to understand the challenges associated with recruiting, retaining and mobilising talent globally.The survey, ‘Spotlight on: Recruitment and Retention. An employer perspective’, is in response to a report published by Real earlier this year. The report, ‘Spotlight on: Salaries, recruitment and retention’, highlighted over three quarters of people employed in the European pharma, biotech and med devices industries are considering not just leaving their current job, but also moving internationally for the right…

In an increasingly competitive Life Sciences industry, many providers are concerned about a lack of in-house talent and expertise, as they recognise the need to better manage revenue performance
In an increasingly competitive Life Sciences industry, many providers are concerned about a lack of in-house talent and expertise, as they recognise the need to better manage revenue performance.End-to-end revenue lifecycle management has emerged as a key methodology which places price and profit maximisation firmly on the boardroom agenda. As a relatively new concept, it is perhaps no surprise that there are few specialists with the expertise to drive the necessary transformational change within most businesses.There are two primary reasons why the ability to understand and control key aspects of p…

A landmark case involving two insolvent retailers – Woolworths and Ethel Austin – has changed the face of collective redundancy consultation. We report on this important ruling of the EAT and give guidance for employers on the impact of this decision.
A landmark case involving two insolvent retailers – Woolworths and Ethel Austin – has changed the face of collective redundancy consultation. We report on this important ruling of the EAT and give guidance for employers on the impact of this decision.COLLECTIVE CONSULTATIONCollective consultation obligations are governed by statute - section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA).The obligation arises where an employer is proposing to dismiss as redundant 20 or more employees at one establishment within…