Medical Marketing & Media | Marc Iskowitz
FDA issues may deter drugmakers from engaging in social media, but that's
no excuse to ignore what audiences are saying on these platforms, say pharma
and device firms.
“You cannot put your head in the ground like an ostrich and pretend
dialogue is not happening, because it is,” said Pat Choumitsky, senior manager,
consumer marketing, UCB Pharma.
Speaking Monday at the Pharmaceutical Research Group (PMRG) 2012 Annual
National Conference in Orlando, Choumitsky said UCB listens to patient-reported
outcomes on PatientsLikeMe.com. Being involved in the online patient community
has helped the firm, which focuses on epilepsy and immunology, to shape its
clinical trials and messaging. “It's important that we're listening and not
afraid of adverse events.”