Best Practices in Scientific Publications Strategy: Structure, Staffing and Budget

STUDY OVERVIEW

Scientific publications are the principal way biopharmaceutical companies communicate critical clinical trial data to key external stakeholders such as physicians and payers. With increasing calls for greater transparency and data disclosure, global scientific publications leaders often find themselves in a balancing act - ensuring both scientific credibility and commercial viability.

Best Practices, LLC undertook benchmarking research to identify best practices that global scientific publications groups at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use to build scientific credibility and commercial success. In particular, this study provides benchmarks around the structure and leadership; staffing and budget levels; standard operating procedures and use of open source for global scientific publications function.

KEY TOPICS

• Optimal Structure for the Global Publications Function
• Impact of Open Platform on Publishing Strategy
• Standard Operating Procedure for Scientific Publication
• Key Internal Stakeholders Who Contribute to Publications Strategy
• Publication Staffing and Budget

KEY METRICS

• Leadership and Functional Oversight of Publication Function
• Stakeholders Involved in the Development of Publication Strategy and Plan
• Structure of Publication Strategy Function, Publication Planning Function and Publication Plan Delivery Function
• Stakeholders Having Ultimate Responsibility for Publications Strategy, Publication Planning and Publication Plan Delivery
• Impact of Open Platform on Publishing Strategy
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Scientific Publication
• Staff Time Allocated Towards SOP Training
• Number of FTEs Working in Scientific Publications Function
• Number of Internal and Outsourced FTEs Tasked to Specific Publication Activities
• Budget Allocated to Scientific Publications Function
• Publication Budget Sources
• Factors Affecting Annual Publications Budget

SAMPLE KEY FINDINGS

• Use of Open Access Publishing Platforms Increasing: Open access platforms are gaining popularity for publication processes; 44% of companies in the study believe such platforms will impact publication strategy going forward. Part of the allure for open access platforms is they make information readily available to physicians and patients alike. In the wake of open access platforms, companies foresee an impact on areas such as journal selection, publication approval and delivery, and speed of data disclosure.
• Publication Group Budget Averages $6.5 Million: The average publication budget among study participants was $6.5 million while the median among participants was $1.6 million. A majority of publication budget is allocated to publication activities while 25% of budget goes to salaries.

METHODOLOGY

Best Practices, LLC engaged 20 leaders from 19 leading bio-pharmaceutical companies with direct experience working in scientific publishing. Almost 75% of participants are from the U.S. region.

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