Medical comms - Articles
Longer breaks between shifts promote nurses' recovery from work
Reducing short breaks between shifts helps nurses recover from work, according to a new study from Finland. The study analysed the effects of longer rest and recovery periods between shifts on heart rate variability, which is an indicator of recovery.Shift work can increase the risk of many diseases, for example cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk is partially caused by insufficient recovery from work, which interferes with the normal function of the autonomic nervous system regulating heart function and blood pressure, among other things. Nurses have too little time for rest and recovery especially in the backwards-rotating shift system, which allows less than 11 hours of rest between the night and the morning shift.Th…
Reducing short breaks between shifts helps nurses recover from work, according to a new study from Finland. The study analysed the effects of longer rest and recovery periods between shifts on heart rate variability, which is an indicator of recovery.Shift work can increase the risk of many diseases, for example cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk is partially caused by insufficient recovery from work, which interferes with the normal function of the autonomic nervous system regulating heart function and blood pressure, among other things. Nurses have too little time for rest and recovery especially in the backwards-rotating shift system, which allows less than 11 hours of rest between the night and the morning shift.Th…
11-May-2015
Why Pharma CIOs and CMOs need to get along
The pharmaceutical industry is currently going through a period of considerable upheaval. Indeed, as we’ve written recently, it could be suggested that the entire sector is in crisis and in need of fresh ideas. These challenges include the ever-nearing patent cliff and an overall lack of rendering many organisations unable to meet the demands of modern, global markets. One additional issue that hasn’t always initially sprung to mind is the lack of collaboration between Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs); however a recent Accenture study found that solving this particular issue could directly benefit businesses in a number of ways. So with this in mind, what did the survey reveal and how can these two roles work to…
The pharmaceutical industry is currently going through a period of considerable upheaval. Indeed, as we’ve written recently, it could be suggested that the entire sector is in crisis and in need of fresh ideas. These challenges include the ever-nearing patent cliff and an overall lack of rendering many organisations unable to meet the demands of modern, global markets. One additional issue that hasn’t always initially sprung to mind is the lack of collaboration between Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs); however a recent Accenture study found that solving this particular issue could directly benefit businesses in a number of ways. So with this in mind, what did the survey reveal and how can these two roles work to…
20-Apr-2015
The Arrival of the “Age of Abundance”
We are surrounded by millions of everythingWe are swamped with unlimited options, ideas, goods and services, intricate possibilities and simply drowning in overflow…never in the history of mankind have we had so much so easily and simultaneously available for so many in so many aspects across the farthest corners of the world. The arrival of the age of abundance is now a mainstream challenge for all creators and producers of ideas, goods and services. On one side we are witnessing the transformation from the ‘age of scarcity’ to the ‘age of abundance’ on the other we are in a massive global flood drowning the ordinary, mediocrity and old age execution.We are in the age of abundanceIt all started out with the “age of curiosity” where in the earlier darke…
We are surrounded by millions of everythingWe are swamped with unlimited options, ideas, goods and services, intricate possibilities and simply drowning in overflow…never in the history of mankind have we had so much so easily and simultaneously available for so many in so many aspects across the farthest corners of the world. The arrival of the age of abundance is now a mainstream challenge for all creators and producers of ideas, goods and services. On one side we are witnessing the transformation from the ‘age of scarcity’ to the ‘age of abundance’ on the other we are in a massive global flood drowning the ordinary, mediocrity and old age execution.We are in the age of abundanceIt all started out with the “age of curiosity” where in the earlier darke…
As the Affiliate Role Becomes More Sales Focused, Regulatory Functions Come into View
The role of the affiliate has been under the microscope for many years, with discussion going back and forth about the relative merits of managing regulatory and pharmacovigilance functions at the affiliate office versus from the centre.Questions about the merits of having on-the-ground regulatory and pharmacovigilance personnel in each market have been raised, but little progress was made in answering those questions. It had been thought that harmonisation and standardisation of the submission process—first through the common technical document (CTD) and next through the electronic CTD—would simplify the affiliate’s role in handling dossiers. In fact the opposite was true. Then the expectation became that…
The role of the affiliate has been under the microscope for many years, with discussion going back and forth about the relative merits of managing regulatory and pharmacovigilance functions at the affiliate office versus from the centre.Questions about the merits of having on-the-ground regulatory and pharmacovigilance personnel in each market have been raised, but little progress was made in answering those questions. It had been thought that harmonisation and standardisation of the submission process—first through the common technical document (CTD) and next through the electronic CTD—would simplify the affiliate’s role in handling dossiers. In fact the opposite was true. Then the expectation became that…
02-Apr-2015
Pharma in crisis – what does it mean for talent?
As we’re all aware, the pharmaceutical industry has been going through something of a revolution in recent years. A number of issues, including the approaching patent cliff and a lack of innovation from major firms have meant that the current industry business model is unsuitable and unsustainable when it comes to meeting the demands of the global markets. Some reports have suggested that the arena is expanding and is set to double in size by 2020, however it’s likely these figures have been affected by firms diversifying their offering and moving into other sectors. What we do know is that the market is changing, but what does this mean for skills demands?We’ve now reached the end of the blockbuster drug era with around 110 major produ…
As we’re all aware, the pharmaceutical industry has been going through something of a revolution in recent years. A number of issues, including the approaching patent cliff and a lack of innovation from major firms have meant that the current industry business model is unsuitable and unsustainable when it comes to meeting the demands of the global markets. Some reports have suggested that the arena is expanding and is set to double in size by 2020, however it’s likely these figures have been affected by firms diversifying their offering and moving into other sectors. What we do know is that the market is changing, but what does this mean for skills demands?We’ve now reached the end of the blockbuster drug era with around 110 major produ…
16-Dec-2014
Mega Collision of 15 Monster Trends in 2015
No matter what your position, location, size of your operation, the following 15 trends starts to collide and open up amazing and instant opportunities for you. And yet, if you are not fully prepared to recognize and adjust accordingly, they will bite you like a big great white shark in deep water…guaranteedDark Television:A series of new platforms will seriously disturb global traditional TV media. The supremacy of modern television is seriously challenged and being over taken by massive intelligent streaming. The constantly dumb-down often fake ‘breaking news’ blended with silly reality shows are now being replaced by highly categorized intelligent and customized contents with instant online streaming access from all over the world creating your…
No matter what your position, location, size of your operation, the following 15 trends starts to collide and open up amazing and instant opportunities for you. And yet, if you are not fully prepared to recognize and adjust accordingly, they will bite you like a big great white shark in deep water…guaranteedDark Television:A series of new platforms will seriously disturb global traditional TV media. The supremacy of modern television is seriously challenged and being over taken by massive intelligent streaming. The constantly dumb-down often fake ‘breaking news’ blended with silly reality shows are now being replaced by highly categorized intelligent and customized contents with instant online streaming access from all over the world creating your…
11-Dec-2014
Things NOT to put on your CV for a Pharma Job
So you've got your CV up to date, and filled with lots of juicy relevant experience and qualifications. Now it's time to think about some things you DON'T want to include...ClichésRemove any obvious Clichés like team player, innovative, results orientated. These are so over used that they mean nothing. Leave them out.ReferencesYou don't need to say “references available on request”. It's not 1980 and you're not applying for your first job in a bank.Old or irrelevant experienceTake out anything that's not relevant, or more than 10 years old - it only serves to clutter up your CV. Use the space to provide more recent / relevant experience and achievements.ObjectivesYour objective is to get a job, so there’s no point in saying that - Employers are…
So you've got your CV up to date, and filled with lots of juicy relevant experience and qualifications. Now it's time to think about some things you DON'T want to include...ClichésRemove any obvious Clichés like team player, innovative, results orientated. These are so over used that they mean nothing. Leave them out.ReferencesYou don't need to say “references available on request”. It's not 1980 and you're not applying for your first job in a bank.Old or irrelevant experienceTake out anything that's not relevant, or more than 10 years old - it only serves to clutter up your CV. Use the space to provide more recent / relevant experience and achievements.ObjectivesYour objective is to get a job, so there’s no point in saying that - Employers are…
02-Dec-2014
Pharmaceutical interviews - preparation is key feature from Apex International
Job interviews can be a daunting experience at the best of times, so it's particularly important in the current climate to ensure you are well-prepared for this stage of recruitment.Preparing for a pharmaceutical interview is in many respects similar to applying for positions in other high-status professions. Punctuality, a confident manner and a professional appearance are essential parts of any successful job interview.It is also important that candidates spend an appropriate amount of time researching and familiarising themselves with both the company and the role for which they are being considered before the day of the interview.Recruitment for permanent pharmaceutical roles is often carried out in different…
Job interviews can be a daunting experience at the best of times, so it's particularly important in the current climate to ensure you are well-prepared for this stage of recruitment.Preparing for a pharmaceutical interview is in many respects similar to applying for positions in other high-status professions. Punctuality, a confident manner and a professional appearance are essential parts of any successful job interview.It is also important that candidates spend an appropriate amount of time researching and familiarising themselves with both the company and the role for which they are being considered before the day of the interview.Recruitment for permanent pharmaceutical roles is often carried out in different…
PV-10 and checkpoint inhibitor enhance melanoma regression
In mouse models of melanoma adding check point inhibitors to intralesional (IL) PV-10 improved tumour regression and stimulated immune response, reports a study presented at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting, 6-9 November, National Harbor, Maryland, USA¹.An earlier phase 2 study showed injecting IL PV-10, into the lesions of 80 stage IIIB-IV melanoma patients refractory to a median of six prior interventions, delivered a best overall response rate of 51% and complete response rate of 26%. PV-10, a 10% solution of Rose Bengal taking its name from the dot that signals marriage on the foreheads of women in Bengal, was originally used in liver function studies and to detect eye disease. It has been developed by P…
In mouse models of melanoma adding check point inhibitors to intralesional (IL) PV-10 improved tumour regression and stimulated immune response, reports a study presented at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting, 6-9 November, National Harbor, Maryland, USA¹.An earlier phase 2 study showed injecting IL PV-10, into the lesions of 80 stage IIIB-IV melanoma patients refractory to a median of six prior interventions, delivered a best overall response rate of 51% and complete response rate of 26%. PV-10, a 10% solution of Rose Bengal taking its name from the dot that signals marriage on the foreheads of women in Bengal, was originally used in liver function studies and to detect eye disease. It has been developed by P…
Patients with stage IIB-IV melanoma who had cutaneous and subcutaneous melanoma lesions injected with PV-10 showed marked differences in progression free survival according to number of lesions injected, reported the latest data from a phase 2 trial presented at the 2014 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, held Madrid, Spain, 26 to 30 September.
The rationale for PV-10, a 10% solution of Rose Bengal developed first as a dye, is that the agent has a local chemo ablative effect where it enters lysosomes causing local necrosis, and then in some patients a systemic effect believed to be immunologically mediated. Previous studies have demonstrated increased CD8+, CD4+, CD3+ and NKT in peripheral blood within seven days of injection.In the open label phase 2 study 80 patients w…
The rationale for PV-10, a 10% solution of Rose Bengal developed first as a dye, is that the agent has a local chemo ablative effect where it enters lysosomes causing local necrosis, and then in some patients a systemic effect believed to be immunologically mediated. Previous studies have demonstrated increased CD8+, CD4+, CD3+ and NKT in peripheral blood within seven days of injection.In the open label phase 2 study 80 patients w…
09-Dec-2014
PharmiWeb.com is pleased to offer on-line training courses in partnership with ePharma Global.
These online courses are designed by a team of experts with PhD's from leading Universities in the UK and clinical research experience from the world’s leading Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries.We are able to provide you with access to bespoke on-line training courses that will provide your students with the skills that are needed to enter and understand the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries. We are also able to meet individual training needs. Clinical Project Manager (CPM) Clinical Trial Administrator (CTA) Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Responding to an Audit Report (QA/QC)An Introduction: Preparation for a site audit Pharmacovigilance Associat…
These online courses are designed by a team of experts with PhD's from leading Universities in the UK and clinical research experience from the world’s leading Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries.We are able to provide you with access to bespoke on-line training courses that will provide your students with the skills that are needed to enter and understand the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries. We are also able to meet individual training needs. Clinical Project Manager (CPM) Clinical Trial Administrator (CTA) Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Responding to an Audit Report (QA/QC)An Introduction: Preparation for a site audit Pharmacovigilance Associat…
How do you know if your contact has opened the email you sent?
You know what it’s like… you’ve sent an email to a candidate or client, but you don’t know if they’ve got it, let alone opened it or clicked on that link you sent – and your next step will be decided by their action. If they’ve clicked on that link – they may be interested! – how can you find out? Well you can, and here are a couple of tools that you might find very useful…SignalsSignals has been developed by HubSpot, (a great social media tool – but that’s another story!) Basically it’s a plugin for Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail that attaches a small (invisible) icon to your outbound messages. This then allows it to track when the recipient opens it, and you get an immediate notification by popup. You can also see a complete lo…
You know what it’s like… you’ve sent an email to a candidate or client, but you don’t know if they’ve got it, let alone opened it or clicked on that link you sent – and your next step will be decided by their action. If they’ve clicked on that link – they may be interested! – how can you find out? Well you can, and here are a couple of tools that you might find very useful…SignalsSignals has been developed by HubSpot, (a great social media tool – but that’s another story!) Basically it’s a plugin for Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail that attaches a small (invisible) icon to your outbound messages. This then allows it to track when the recipient opens it, and you get an immediate notification by popup. You can also see a complete lo…
European pharma to emerge as consolidators as US targets release key clinical data - Analysis
• AstraZeneca and GSK could look at InterMune• Incyte, Pharmacyclics and BioMarin also watched• Sanofi could eye BioMarin in 2016European pharmaceutical firms looking to add to their portfolios could take advantage of a slew of US assets releasing late-stage clinical data and a calmer cross-border M&A market due to a possible clampdown on US tax inversion deals, bankers and analysts said.UK-based AstraZeneca [LON:AZN] and GlaxoSmithKline [LON:GSK], which have spent the first half of the year reorganising their portfol…
• AstraZeneca and GSK could look at InterMune• Incyte, Pharmacyclics and BioMarin also watched• Sanofi could eye BioMarin in 2016European pharmaceutical firms looking to add to their portfolios could take advantage of a slew of US assets releasing late-stage clinical data and a calmer cross-border M&A market due to a possible clampdown on US tax inversion deals, bankers and analysts said.UK-based AstraZeneca [LON:AZN] and GlaxoSmithKline [LON:GSK], which have spent the first half of the year reorganising their portfol…
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to be notified by email as soon as something changes on your prospect’s job pages.
If you’re a recruitment agency, there’s a good chance that part of your role is looking to see when prospects (or competitors!) in your sector are recruiting. One way to do this is to check out their websites regularly. This can be very time consuming, especially when you’re trying to keep track of dozens of sites. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to be notified by email as soon as something changes on your prospect’s job pages. (e.g. a new job is posted) . Actually there is...Changedetection.com is a free website that does just that. It’s not the most visually stunning site out there, and I’m sure there are others, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.https…
If you’re a recruitment agency, there’s a good chance that part of your role is looking to see when prospects (or competitors!) in your sector are recruiting. One way to do this is to check out their websites regularly. This can be very time consuming, especially when you’re trying to keep track of dozens of sites. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to be notified by email as soon as something changes on your prospect’s job pages. (e.g. a new job is posted) . Actually there is...Changedetection.com is a free website that does just that. It’s not the most visually stunning site out there, and I’m sure there are others, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.https…
Gone are the days of cutting and pasting the job description and pretending it’s a job advert. So here are a couple of tips…
If not, you shouldGone are the days of cutting and pasting the job description and pretending it’s a job advert. So here are a couple of tips...Firstly, the Job title is the most important element of the whole advert, often it will appear as the title of the page on which it appears, so making your job title “Senior Clinical Research Physician” is far better than “Great new opportunity for a Senior Clinical Research Physician with a minimum of 5 years experience” as its more likely to be searched for and therefore more relevant in the search results. Adding superlatives should only be part of the summary text or main body.Then there are keywords. Think about what cand…
If not, you shouldGone are the days of cutting and pasting the job description and pretending it’s a job advert. So here are a couple of tips...Firstly, the Job title is the most important element of the whole advert, often it will appear as the title of the page on which it appears, so making your job title “Senior Clinical Research Physician” is far better than “Great new opportunity for a Senior Clinical Research Physician with a minimum of 5 years experience” as its more likely to be searched for and therefore more relevant in the search results. Adding superlatives should only be part of the summary text or main body.Then there are keywords. Think about what cand…
Wearable technology devices are out there now
Do you know your Fitbit from your Jawbone? Are you breaking through the Google Glass ceiling or twanging your SIM-band already?Wearable technology devices are out there now - from watches that record your pulse and heart rate to smart fabrics that change colour with body temperature. Top athletes routinely wear monitors in their shoes or on their bodies to record physical data that can be downloaded and analysed to hone performance and refine training regimes.Early adopters might be figures of nerdish fun today, but there's no doubt that the principle of wearable tech devices has potentially huge value - not only for consumers in everyday life but specifically in the healthcare and wellbeing sectors.Before these devices are widely adopted, there…
Do you know your Fitbit from your Jawbone? Are you breaking through the Google Glass ceiling or twanging your SIM-band already?Wearable technology devices are out there now - from watches that record your pulse and heart rate to smart fabrics that change colour with body temperature. Top athletes routinely wear monitors in their shoes or on their bodies to record physical data that can be downloaded and analysed to hone performance and refine training regimes.Early adopters might be figures of nerdish fun today, but there's no doubt that the principle of wearable tech devices has potentially huge value - not only for consumers in everyday life but specifically in the healthcare and wellbeing sectors.Before these devices are widely adopted, there…
10-Jul-2014
The job market has changed. Are you ready?
2014 has seen a dramatic switch in the hiring market.The improved global economic climate has triggered an aggressive appetite for growth, leaving the hiring freezes, redundancies and job insecurity that once characterised the job market behind. Firms are once again looking for the best human capital to fuel their future growth plans, job vacancies are escalating and opportunity is rife.Likewise with higher confidence in job security, professionals have shifted their job outlook from risk aversion to pursuit of career development. Increasing numbers of exceptional professionals are looking for their next career move and competition is higher than ever.How can you ensure success in the new job market?Be the custodian of your careerYou are the only p…
2014 has seen a dramatic switch in the hiring market.The improved global economic climate has triggered an aggressive appetite for growth, leaving the hiring freezes, redundancies and job insecurity that once characterised the job market behind. Firms are once again looking for the best human capital to fuel their future growth plans, job vacancies are escalating and opportunity is rife.Likewise with higher confidence in job security, professionals have shifted their job outlook from risk aversion to pursuit of career development. Increasing numbers of exceptional professionals are looking for their next career move and competition is higher than ever.How can you ensure success in the new job market?Be the custodian of your careerYou are the only p…
02-Jul-2014
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…
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…
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…
