Notes from Exl Digital West Conference, SFO

Recently, I attended ExL Pharma’s Digital West Conference in San Francisco. Debjani Deb, Managing Partner spoke at this conference (Download presentation). Here are some notes from my interactions with pharma industry executives at this well attended, and interesting conference.

• While we have a long way to go, I was very pleased to see how far we have come (though pharma companies may not believe it ! ). The conversation was no longer around how to handle AE reporting. Most companies have realized that they need to apply the same principals as they do with other channels and have a process in place to report. If they find an AE, and it meets the 4 conditions, they report it

• FDA regulations are no longer awaited with bated breath. Companies have developed stringent internal policies and are following them rather than playing the waiting game

• Realization that digital is yet another channel, treating it as yet another channel – albeit with different rule of higher engagement and fewer controls

• Citizen journalism is here to stay – recognize it and be pro-active and not reactive. There is a new breed of opinion leaders shaping perceptions, awareness and consideration. Recognize them, hear what they have to say and engage with them

• Payors play a large role as influencers – incorporate them into your strategies

• Think Digital not social. Mobile is big and about to get bigger as stakeholders interact with each other and consume information in different ways

• Understanding stakeholders before starting any initiative online – what they need, when do they need it, where are they looking for it. Don’t start initiatives for the sake of it

• Measurement is necessary, but first figure out the objective and then measure against it

• Its very important to listen – listen to learn from, and listen to engage with stakeholders

- by Vrinda Deval