BioPhamaDIVE
| Nicole Gray
Dive Brief:
- According to a survey from CMS/COMPAS, 39% of physicians are willing to see pharma reps without any restrictions, up from 36% last year. This finding, which represents a reversal of a long-term trend, is based on a survey of 2,680 doctors.
- Previously, the trend had been towards stricter regulations keeping reps out of physicians offices due to the perception that they took up too much time and that they were attempting to have too much influence over prescribing patterns, while pushing docs towards more expensive medications.
- The reversal in the do-not-see trend is largely driven by an interest in new types of medicines, with a particular interest in immuno-oncologic drugs.
Dive Insight:
There was a point when do-not-see policies and similar restrictions led to
pharma reps spending as much time trying to figure out how to get face time
with a physician as actually prepping for their calls. However, as
innovation in oncology and other therapeutic areas has given way to new types
of medications, physicians are more interested in speaking to reps and even
collaborating with them.