Posted on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 11:39 AM
After the business challenges of 2009 and what remains a 
precarious economy this year, we at JFK Communications feel fortunate to be growing again in 2010. And it's starting to look like while the national unemployment numbers remain unacceptably high, the US economy is at last beginning to show signs of improvement.
To me, the US healthcare industry in general and the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology industries in particular have always been bright spots on the economic landscape, whether times were good or bad for the country overall. The past few years, however, have been a very different story as we all know.
On the jobs front, I was both surprised and disappointed to learn recently that for the first half of 2010, the US pharmaceutical industry has eliminated approximately 35,000 positions. This is on top of the nearly 60,000 pharma jobs that were eliminated during 2009.
Industry pundits will offer up many reasons for why these job cuts had to be made, not the least of which is the dire economic conditions. But the pharma bloodletting started well before the US economy tanked, and job eliminations in the pharmaceutical industry look set to continue in spite of improving economic conditions.
I think many of the industry's current woes are the direct result of the seemingly endless drive toward consolidation, attempts to create "economies of scale" and getting bigger because it seems that well, that's all big pharma can think to do right now to try to fix its problems.
Consider the following questions:
- Has the US pharmaceutical industry become a more dynamic, enjoyable and opportunity-rich place for people to work, or has it become less so as the result of increased consolidation?
- Is the world really better off without such great companies (and places to work) as Pharmacia, Lederle, Parke Davis, Warner Lambert, and Searle, to name just a few?
- Are more innovative drugs being brought to market in the US as the result of pharma industry consolidation and the existence of fewer, but larger pharmaceutical companies?
- Has industry consolidation improved the overall financial health of big pharma companies over the past 20 years?
- What about healthcare costs? Are patients paying any less for their drugs these days?
The culture of consolidation permeating the pharmaceutical industry has impacted every operational area, including how these companies purchase creative services such as advertising, public relations, market research, digital communications and graphic design. In many cases, smaller to mid-sized independent healthcare communications agencies have lost out to mega-sized communications conglomerates such as WPP Group, Omnicom, Publicis and Interpublic Group. These groups have all benefited by entering into "preferred provider" agreements with big pharma companies. I like to think of this trend as the "Walmart-ization" of healthcare communications.
Do marketing directors and brand managers at pharmaceutical companies with preferred agency networks enjoy being told which agencies they have to work with?
And last but not least, it makes me wonder: when has removing competition from the equation ever been good for business?
--David Avitabile
Posted on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 @ 01:47 PM
Could the recent FDA approval of a generic version of Lovenox (enoxaparin) be the beginning of approvals of other complex molecules? We recall that the Biologics Price Competition and 
Innovation Act of 2009 found its way into the Health reform bill. The Biologics Act provides a pathway for biosimilars, however, grants biologics innovator companies 12-years patent exclusivity (http://tiny.cc/ymnj1). While biologics currently reside outside the current generics approval processes, it seems that “complex molecules” like enoxaparin do not. The developers of the generic enoxaparin, Sandoz, division of Novartis, are hoping to win approval next for a generic version of the “complex mixture” Copaxone for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. For more details on FDA’s position visit: http://tiny.cc/fvvve. For more information regarding Sanofi’s position, read their July 23 statement here: http://tiny.cc/zgib3.
--John Kouten
Posted on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 04:27 PM
As personalized medicine continues to become more of a reality, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology companies are finding ways to create new partnerships focused on building the future of medicine.
BioNJ's Diagnostics Committee, of which JFK Communications is a member, is hosting a free webinar keynoted by G. Steven Burrill, Chief Executive Officer, Burrill & Company.
This event is the first in a series of initiatives from BioNJ for global life sciences companies. Learn more about it, and register, by clicking here: New Jersey Gets Personalized – A series of initiatives from BioNJ to advance the Diagnostics industry and foster partnerships with biopharma companies in the State of New Jersey. How New Technologies are Changing Opportunities in the Diagnostics Industry, Creating Value and Encouraging Partnerships.
--David Avitabile
Posted on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 @ 11:18 AM
Do you want to lead? Remain teachable. This is especially true for healthcare 
communications and marketing professionals who want to engage the digital health consumer (in other words, all of us).
Next week, we'll be participating in the e-Patient Connections Conference in Philadelphia, organized by my friend Kevin Kruse. If you want to see a Who's Who of leadership in digital healthcare communications and social media, check out the speaker line-up and the program for this event.
So here's a Healthcare PR Blog shout-out to Kevin Kruse and his team a Kru Research for putting this meeting together.
I'm sure we'll have a few things to blog about following this conference. We look forward to seeing our friends and colleagues at this event.
Stay tuned.
--David Avitabile
Posted on Mon, Jun 29, 2009 @ 11:31 AM
As US citizens hold their breath and speculate about how
healthcare reform, 
personalized medicine and the shift toward prevention will
impact them, I am certain that diagnostics companies are going to benefit more
than most from the changes taking place.
Personalized medicine is increasing demand for molecular
diagnostics that can accurately predict which patients will respond to a
particular drug. Biomarker tests that can ensure a product will show some
efficacy in the patients for which it is prescribed are therefore going to be
in high demand. Drugs matched with biomarker tests can also translate into more
rapid regulatory approval, albeit, possibly more narrow market
potential. It is also no
coincidence that three Big Pharma players doing relatively better than their
competitors are those with a major presence in diagnostics—Abbott, Johnson
& Johnson and Roche.
G. Steven Burrill
had a fascinating interview in the June issue of Life
Science Leader magazine in which he talked about the future of healthcare,
personalized medicine, changes in the pharmaceutical industry and the rise of
diagnostics. In the article, Mr. Burrill predicts that the rise in
personalized, predictive and preventative medicine as a result of healthcare
reform is going to lead to a shift in diagnostics from being a high volume, low
margin business to a high value, high margin business. Personalized medicine
seems inevitable when you consider that according to some estimates, about 55%
of the drugs consumed in America don’t work for the patients that they were
prescribed for, and 80% of all approved cancer therapies fail to provide
positive outcomes for many cancer patients.
What has been very interesting to see is how the evolution
of our client base is keeping pace with the increasing importance of
diagnostics companies in the healthcare marketplace. While JFK Communications
has been providing public relations services to diagnostics companies since our
inception, today approximately half of our client base includes diagnostics
companies.
Diagnostic product public relations is every bit as
challenging and engaging as pharmaceutical, biotechnology and patient advocacy
communications. It requires an understanding of different regulatory pathways,
complex commercial development, licensing and distribution environments, and a
unique media universe that is changing and growing at the same pace as other
media segments. It also demands
that we interpret and position our clients’ interests and messages in anticipation
of looming healthcare reform in the U.S.
Posted on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 @ 03:50 PM
I knew that headline would get your attention. And while it might look like fantasyland in light of current economic trends affecting the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, it isn’t. The oncology market is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 12% to 15% between now and 2012, according to the IMS Global Oncology Forecast. The growth of the oncology market will be nearly double the forecasted growth rate of the overall pharmaceutical market over the next few years, reaching $75 to $80 billion in sales by 2012.
There are nearly 2,000 individual molecules currently in development for the treatment of cancer. Our industry has clearly identified oncology as a major opportunity, and demographics suggest that this market will continue to grow in spite of economic fluctuations. Global populations are aging, and cancer is an age-related disease. Looking at the US, President Obama vowed to seek a “cure for cancer in our time” in his February 2009 speech to congress, and followed that up by announcing a plan to double cancer research spending by 2017.
Unprecedented progress in genomics, the growth of targeted therapies and the promise of personalized medicine are all playing a critical role in winning the battle against cancer. A greater focus on screening, earlier diagnosis and prevention is also going to contribute to continued growth in the cancer diagnostics sector.
JFK Communications has a strong legacy of oncology public relations and cancer communications experience. From ground-breaking disease awareness initiatives with Lance Armstrong to global launches of blockbuster cancer medicines, JFK has been there. And we remain stalwarts in supporting companies large and small working to bring and end to this global scourge. We help our clients with difficult oncology clinical trial recruitment, as well as even more difficult preparation for Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee meetings. We know the cancer advocates, oncology KOLs and the PR folks at the major oncology professional societies. JFK team members have spent much of our careers working at leading oncology companies and supporting global cancer initiatives. We also provide pro bono support to key patient advocacy clients.
Healthcare reform will bring a number of seismic changes. These include the emergence of a comparative effectiveness model, and for cancer patients, an increased focus on personalized medicine, improved screening and earlier diagnosis. Throw into this mix a highly motivated patient advocacy community committed to making sure that patients get the best treatments for their cancer, and you have a very challenging communications environment.
This is an exciting time to be involved in the cancer market. Considerable progress is being made in understanding the disease, governments are making major commitments to eradicate cancer, and healthcare reform is changing the model for delivery of care.
As Abraham Lincoln once said:
As our case is new, we must think and act anew.
--David Avitabile
Posted on Tue, May 26, 2009 @ 01:05 PM
JFK Communications provided public relations support for the seventh annual Spirit 
of Jane Rodney reception on Friday, May 10, 2009. The event took place at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion in Princeton, NJ. This fundraiser for breast cancer research and awareness helped honor local heroes who embody the spirit, fight and passion of Jane Rodney. The event honored Kim Taylor, President, Centocor/Ortho Biotech, Corporate Excellence Award; Philip Kirstein, Individual Achievement Award and Laurie Schnitzlein, Survivor Award.
JFK Communications provides Susan G Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey with pro bono public relations and marketing communications support. We are privileged to have the opportunity to work with an organization committed to such a worthy cause. Komen is a perfect organization for JFK Communications. Our family, friends and employees have all been impacted by this dreaded disease. Also, many of our clients are engaged in the fight against cancer and breast cancer.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Central and South Jersey, please visit: www.komencsnj.org. You can also follow some of our support for Komen on our Twitter account http://twitter.com/pharmaprman.
--John Kouten