A recent article in Eye for Pharma sites the use of mobile technology for managing A1C levels in type 2 diabetes. To quote, "in one study, published in Diabetes Technologies and Therapeutics, patients who used the cell phone platform experienced an average 2.03-point decrease in their A1C levels, while the control group experienced a 0.58-point increase. Additionally, patients who used the phone were more likely to switch to brands that offered such a platform, and doctors gave the product a 100 percent physician satisfaction rating, stating that it made the information they could see about their patients more comprehensive."
The solution is from a new vendor called Welldoc that supplies similar solutions across multiple therapeutic categories.
Similar trends on shifting to mobile are growing, as in headache calendars for migraine sufferers reported in Practical Neurology this November 2009.
In fact, the mobile app solutions needs to be combined with healthcare professional review of tracking data, to insure compliance. However, the pervasiveness and portability of mobile, plus consistent data capture, could improve the quality of patient tracking and feedback to patients vs. paper-based compliance trackers.
Mar 29, 2010
Mar 6, 2010
Pharma DTC Spending Holds, and Digital Rises
Recent posts in Medical Marketing and Media notes that Pharmaceutical DTC spending has held firm in 2009, rising 1.9% to $4.5 billion over 2008 spend. Data is from the Nielsen Company. Considering reductions in sales force sizing, that means a relative rise in the percentage of spending in DTC in pharmaceuticals.
A closer look at these numbers brings insights by channel. Television spending is shifting from networks to cable, and magazine spending is down.
A note worthy trend is a rise in Internet ad spending of 31%, to $117 million. Of course, Internet spending is still small in the relative DTC marketing mix (less than a tenth of overall print or overall TV).
Still the rise shows that increasing numbers of pharmaceutical marketers are seeing these benefits of digital advertising:
Targeting: Online media can be targeted to consumers' behaviors, and their searches. It can also be placed within content areas geared toward disease education vs. specific products.
Direct response efficiency: On a cost per lead basis, search and direct response banners are very efficient.
Faster and Easier Measurement: Data on impressions, click throughs, and landing site activity comes in within hours and days after the campaign launches. This enables marketers to understand what their audiences really need and how well they respond to alternative offers.
Testing and Learning: In a related note, setting up parallel test cells for search or banner campaigns is straightforward using platforms like Omniture or Google Analytics. The rapid results noted above help you see which offer or creative is yielding the biggest response or most website traffic.
Rapid Media Optimization: One corollary to rapid data within a test and learn environment is enabling of rapid media optimization. Decisions can continually be made of what media changes to make.
These benefits should continue to make digital an ever increasing channel for consumer advertising and relationship marketing in pharmaceuticals in the future.
A closer look at these numbers brings insights by channel. Television spending is shifting from networks to cable, and magazine spending is down.
A note worthy trend is a rise in Internet ad spending of 31%, to $117 million. Of course, Internet spending is still small in the relative DTC marketing mix (less than a tenth of overall print or overall TV).
Still the rise shows that increasing numbers of pharmaceutical marketers are seeing these benefits of digital advertising:
Targeting: Online media can be targeted to consumers' behaviors, and their searches. It can also be placed within content areas geared toward disease education vs. specific products.
Direct response efficiency: On a cost per lead basis, search and direct response banners are very efficient.
Faster and Easier Measurement: Data on impressions, click throughs, and landing site activity comes in within hours and days after the campaign launches. This enables marketers to understand what their audiences really need and how well they respond to alternative offers.
Testing and Learning: In a related note, setting up parallel test cells for search or banner campaigns is straightforward using platforms like Omniture or Google Analytics. The rapid results noted above help you see which offer or creative is yielding the biggest response or most website traffic.
Rapid Media Optimization: One corollary to rapid data within a test and learn environment is enabling of rapid media optimization. Decisions can continually be made of what media changes to make.
These benefits should continue to make digital an ever increasing channel for consumer advertising and relationship marketing in pharmaceuticals in the future.
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