Articles

The Science of Employee Engagement
A third of employees in the life science sector feel disengaged at work and a salary increase is not the solution. According to a recent survey carried out by leading international staffing agency – ProClinical – a third of staff working within the life sciences industry are disengaged in their jobs and at risk of leaving in the next 12 months. The survey of more than 1000 individuals employed in the life sciences industry, including pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology and contract research organisations in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific, revealed that disengaged employees are twice as likely to leave and that it takes more than just a good salary to keep them motivated and loyal to their employers. The participants were asked a series of…

Smarter steps to compliance: The future of regulatory compliance in the pharmaceutical industry
The pharmaceutical industry today operates in one of the world’s most heavily regulated environments. Over the past few years, the industry has experienced significant regulatory change and looking to the future, the strict nature of the industry doesn’t appear to be slacking. The repercussions of failing to comply with industry standards can be detrimental for pharmaceutical manufacturers. It’s no secret that the integrity and reputation of pharmaceutical brands is integral to their success. As a result, even the smallest failure can be irreversibly damaging. With industry standards surrounding crucial elements like product integrity, energy efficiency, health and safety and product testing, th…

Until life sciences companies are able to manage product lifecycle information holistically, their ability to seize new market opportunities will be limited, warns Mark Evenepoel, Group CEO at AMPLEXOR Life Sciences
Until life sciences companies are able to manage product lifecycle information holistically, their ability to seize new market opportunities will be limited, warns Mark Evenepoel, Group CEO at AMPLEXOR Life Sciences In 2016, the life sciences industry faces increasingly complex regulatory challenges and operational risks: the result of technology advances, clinician and patient expectations, and a globally-connected healthcare market. But unless organisations tackle the association product data management challenges holistically, they could be running up high levels of expense…

2016: A critical year for compliance—and combative manoeuvres
As 2015 draws to a close—and with a number of important regulatory deadlines set to converge during the year ahead, data preparation efforts across the life sciences industry are reaching a peak. But what benefit do companies expect for their pains? wonders ProductLife Group’s Chief Operating Officer, John Farrell Data centralisation and harmonisation efforts are the preoccupations of regulatory teams across the life sciences industry because regulatory demands around product and process transparency have intensified. Activity reached a peak in 2015 as companies looked down the barrels of approaching deadlines, by which points a whole range of data must have been captured, managed, submitted, and updated in particular ways. Life…

As Biomedical companies from around the world take stock after attending the industry flagship MEDICA show in Duesseldorf, many will have sown the seeds of new partnerships, client relationships, and international research collaborations. For some, their company growth may be pointing to a rise in cross-border business and a need to consider an overseas presence – perhaps for the first time.
~~As Biomedical companies from around the world take stock after attending the industry flagship MEDICA show in Duesseldorf, many will have sown the seeds of new partnerships, client relationships, and international research collaborations. For some, their company growth may be pointing to a rise in cross-border business and a need to consider an overseas presence – perhaps for the first time. Connectin…

What can life sciences organisations learn from the investment banking sector?
With the most recent public debate on drug pricing, government healthcare budgets under scrutiny, ever more rigorous compliance and transparency demands, and problematic patent cliffs, is the life sciences sector heading for a modern day crisis?  2020 will see a surge in healthcare demand precipitated by an aging population with chronic care needs, income growth in emerging markets, and expansion in health insurance globally, with the industry having to shift to a more efficient management of costs as pressure from payers, reimbursement challenges and development costs increase. Most importantly there will also be a growing shortage of highly skilled and specialised talent in the industry. All of this is&nbs…

What Does a Biostatistician Do? The Job of a Biostatistician
What is the Job of a Biostatistician? A Biostatistician must have a strong grasp of computing and mathematics and be capable of making logical decisions and deductions because their job is to combine math, statistics and science to provide relevant data monitoring for disease trends, preventive medicine, experimental treatments and many others. Biostatisticians must also be skilled interpreters because they must offer advice to clients or colleagues based on their data analysis. Job Responsibilities of a Biostatistician: Works with project team to decide on the appropriate study design and statistical methodology for routine designs Assists in the implementation of protocol methodology and statistical analysis plans Is re…

Mike Wood caught up with Austin recently following the renewal of Entrust’s recruitment contract with PharmiWeb.com. Entrust have been using PharmiWeb’s Job Posting and CV search since 2013.
Mike Wood caught up with Austin recently following the renewal of Entrust’s recruitment contract with PharmiWeb.com. Entrust have been using PharmiWeb’s Job Posting and CV search since 2013. MW: Austin, let’s start with Entrust, perhaps you could give me a quick overview? AC: Sure, Entrust People are a professional, dynamic and progressive resourcing consultancy specialising in the Life Science and Technology sectors. We have a dedicated team for each, and the Life Science team consists of specialists originally from the clinical research sector; so they “get the sector” and empathise and engage wel…

Study Start Up (SSU) Specialists act as subject matter experts on all SSU-related activities, overseeing and leading SSU activities in collaboration with other Clinical Research professionals. They are also involved in SSU process improvement, including patient recruitment strategies.
What are the Main Job Responsibilities of a Study Start-Up Specialist? Study Start-Up (SSU) Specialists act as subject matter experts on all SSU-related activities, overseeing and leading SSU activities in collaboration with other Clinical Research professionals. They are also involved in SSU process improvement, including patient recruitment strategies. The main responsibilities of an SSU Specialist may include: Reviewing and negotiating investigator contracts/budgets Tracking the status of contracts and con…

Modern Technology in Medicine: How it's changing the future of treatment
Technology is expanding on an ever-changing and regular basis. It has helped to achieve multiple breakthroughs in science and medicine, providing our society with new means of treatment that often lead to potential cures for various illnesses and diseases etc. Technology helps us to gather essential information, research and treatments that have changed and will continue to change the future of medical treatment. Improved Patient Care Technology does not just refer to the digital aspects of the term. It also refers to the practical and physical advances in modern technology such as the various medical supplies available on Brosch Direct. IT has also had a great advantage with regards to patient care as hospital staff…

How can smaller pharmaceutical firms secure game-changing talent?
As we’re all well aware, the pharmaceutical sector is going through something of a challenging time. Innovation is down and a combination of growing financial pressures and technological advancements are forcing firms into reviewing their long-term strategies. While this period of transition has disrupted the sector, it’s also opened up a range of opportunities for more agile firms to make their mark. However, in order to seize this, they need to be able to recruit talented professionals ahead of their larger and generally more powerful rivals. On the face of it these bigger organisations can offer considerably more to the average pharmaceutical professional, so how can firms secure talent ahead of the major players? An eff…

Business Development Training Course
Business Development Training Course PharmiWeb is pleased to announce that we are offering places on our new recruiter training course to be held at our Bracknell  offices  This is on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you’re interested...Contact Kelly Tipper to request info about the courses or reserve a spot PharmiWeb Promotional Business Development Training …

PharmiWeb.com Training Courses with Vincent Lody
 Recruiter/Resourer Training CoursePharmiWeb is pleased to announce that we are offering places on our new recruiter training course to be held at our Bracknell  offices This is on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you’re interested...Contact Kelly Tipper to request info about the courses or reserve a spotPharmiWeb Promotional Recruiter/Resourcer TrainingSuitable for any recruiter/resourcer in the industry with hints and tips on key elements of recruitment as well as information on how to be more successful.Course content Big Pharma RecruitmentIssues and StrategyRecruitment IssuesWhat’s stopping you achieving your targetsUK RecruitmentMarket overviewRecruitmentBeing a recruitment consultantUSP’sWhy youClient business…

Phases of Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is a research study involving patients that can be used as a way of measuring effectiveness and safety as well as comparing different treatments or the level of side effects between different drugs. Clinical trials are also used to test new methods of screening, diagnostic tests etc. For a drug to enter everyday use it must first pass a series of clinical trials and then obtain approval from the appropriate regulatory agencies (EMA for European Union and FDA for USA).Clinical trials involving new drugs are commonly classified into three main phases (1, 2 and 3) but there is also a preclinical phase and a fourth phase. The phases of clinical drug research are the steps in which scientists do experiments in an attempt to find enough evidenc…

Is M&A set to replace R&D in Pharma?
As has been previously reported, the pharmaceutical industry looks set to benefit from a strong 2015 thanks to an increase in the price of drugs and an increase in the number of sales. However, more recent reports have also emerged detailing how the internal structure of pharmaceutical companies are also set to change dramatically, alongside the dramatic increase in M&A activity in the sector.According to the VCCircle website, M&A activity in the pharmaceutical sector in the US surpassed $59.3 billion by March of this year, and overall global pharma deals announced from January to August of 2015 reached $284 billion. Mega-mergers across the globe are also taking place, with Shire hoping to acquire Baxalta, Mylan hoping to acquire Perrigo but faci…

Healthcare apps and wearable tech have a long future in the treatment of patients, according to a panel of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs)[i] interviewed as part of a newly launched Ipsos Healthcare study.
“Digital Doctor” is the first study of its kind looking specifically at the attitudes of PCPs to new healthcare technologies. The annual study of PCPs, across the UK, France and Germany, will track trends in this emerging field, look to understand the level of engagement in new healthcare technologies, and identify concerns or barriers to adoption.Cautious optimismThe results show PCPs are wary of new health technologies, but 25% see a role for healthcare apps in the treatment of patients with certain conditions. As many as 72% have already used or recommended at least one form of digital…

Risk Management Opportunity in Health and Social Care
 Individual businesses differ in their level of accountability or, to use a term from the safety management profession, maturity. In an immature industry, we rely on the behaviour, maturity and professionalism of the individual manager. Yet, as the industry grows, it becomes more complex and ever more difficult (impossible) for managers to maintain situational awareness and know what the hell is going on. This is the moment when the industry is ripe for a step change in management control. It cries out for great systems in order to cope, move forward and thrive at the next level.Sadly, the trajectory for change often involves undesirable events that, with hindsight, might have been avoided (such as financial failures, safety failure…

An interactive, intensive, one-day workshop designed to help you master the key skills required to manage and produce high-quality, submission-ready clinical study reports
An interactive, intensive, one-day workshop designed to help you master the key skills required to manage and produce high-quality, submission-ready clinical study reports.introductionThe production of clinical study reports is an essential component of any clinical development programme. One of the keys to a successful submission is the inclusion of documents that are well-written, clear and precise, that are therefore easy to read and understand and intuitive to navigate. "Mastering the essential skills: clinical study reports" is an interactive, intensive, one-day workshop designed to help you master the key skills req…

SIRT increases progression free survival colorectal cancer patients with liver mets
Adding selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) to first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (m CRC) spread only to the liver significantly increased median progression free survival compared to chemotherapy alone, finds the latest analysis of the SIRFLOX study presented at the ESMO 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, 1-4 July, Barcelona.While SIRT was granted CE Mark approval in the EU in 2002 for unresectable liver tumours and has been reviewed by NICE for treatment of primary and secondary liver cancers, there have never been large randomized controlled trials in combination with first-line standard-of-care chemotherapy. The SIRFLOX study, representing the larges…

New chemoablative approach for hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver disease
One patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and one with colorectal cancer (CRC) metastatic to the liver demonstrated non-existent liver cancer after a single injection of PV-10, reports a study presented at the ESMO 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, 1-4 July, Barcelona, Spain.Patients with HCC have a poor prognosis with median survivals of 10 to 11 months despite sorafenib use first line. Furthermore, liver metastases develop in nearly 20% of patients with stage II and 50% of patients with stage III colorectal cancer and represent the major cause death in this disease.PV-10, a 10% solution of rose bengal originally used an agent to stain necrotic tissue in the cornea, has already demonstr…