Clinical Trial Outcomes: Effective Scientific Publication Tactics

Scientific journals and government regulators have increased the scrutiny and expectations for pharmaceutical companies seeking to publish their clinical trial results. While selectively highlighting favorable findings may have been acceptable in the past, it is now considered unethical and potentially illegal. As a result of these changing expectations and regulations, global publications leaders at pharmaceutical companies are carefully building strategies that ethically present all study findings while still driving brand strength.

Best Practices, LLC designed this research to determine how leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are shaping their global publications strategies and plans in order to maintain scientific credibility while also delivering commercially relevant publications that drive brand success. Best Practices conducted this study in 2011 and 2007, thus generating longitudinal data where appropriate. Executives can use this study to see how trends in Scientific Publications have evolved in the last four years.

Industries Profiled:
Biopharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical; Medical Device; Health Care; Biotech; Diagnostic


Companies Profiled:
Alkermes; Astellas; Baxter; Becton Dickinson; Boehringer Ingelheim; Cephalon Epigenomics; Ethicon; GlaxoSmithKline; Human Genome Sciences; Janssen; Lundbeck; Novartis; Novo Nordisk; Theravance; URL Pharma

Study Snapshot

This study was conducted through surveys and qualitative interviews with pharmaceutical and biotechnology Global Publication Strategy executives.

Key topics include:

• Optimal structure for the global publications function
• Transition of global pub function from commercial to clinical
• Key internal stakeholders who contribute to publications strategy
• Tactics for handling publication of neutral or negative clinical trial results
• Impact of transparency guidelines on publications, planning and delivery
• Strategy changes for the new marketplace

Sample Key Findings

Resources for Publication Activities: With changes occurring in regulatory environment surrounding clinical trials, 62% of benchmark class are increasing resources in 2011 as compared to 40% in 2007. Similarly, more than 50% of research partners are also increasing percentage of articles submitted to peer reviewed journals as well as head count and budgets.

• Shift Towards Hybrid Structure: At 76% of organizations publication is a part of Medical Affairs group. Increasing number of organizations are opting for hybrid structure for both Publication Strategy and Publication Planning. As compared to 2007, 4 our of 10 organizations are opting for hybrid structure.

If you purchase Best Practice Database document(s), you will have 30 days from the date of purchase to apply some or all of the cost of the document(s) toward the cost of a Full Access Individual, Pharma, Group or University Membership. Write us at DatabaseTeam@bestpracticesllc.com or call David Guinn at 919-767-9179 if you have any questions.