CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Digitization is changing the way medical affairs groups in pharma are serving internal and external stakeholders.

Virtual communication, mobile apps, data analytics tools, interactive platforms and medical booths are a part of the medical affairs function's everyday activities. However, the speed of digitization, the effectiveness of digital planning and execution, and the level of digital resourcing vary widely among different pharmaceutical companies. Facing an industry-wide movement toward digital, medical affairs leaders need to develop digital transformation plans, secure resourcing, and identify small and big opportunities.

To share current practices regarding medical affairs use of digital tools to serve stakeholders, research and consulting leader Best Practices, LLC has published a new study, "Driving the Value of Digital Initiatives in Medical Affairs."

The study found that medical communication and medical strategy groups lead digital strategy in pharma companies with mature digital groups. A common mistake is that many organizations don't have a group leading digital initiatives or there are too many groups leading it, which creates the problem of accountability.

Key topics addressed in the 65-page report are:

* Digital Services to Medical Affairs Groups

* Digital Capabilities in Medical Affairs

* Roles and Reporting in Digital Medical Affairs

* Empowering Patients through e-Medical Initiatives

* Key Trends and Emerging Digital Issues in Medical Affairs

Medical affairs leaders will be able to use the research results to 
develop digital transformation plans, secure resourcing, and identify 
small and big opportunities.

For this research, Best Practices, LLC engaged 68 industry professionals from 35 companies through a benchmarking survey, focus group interviews and a round-table discussion.

To access the full report or to download a complimentary summary containing insights found in this report, click on the following link: http://www.best-in-class.com/rr1506.htm.

For related research, visit the Best Practices, LLC Web site at www.best-in-class.com/.

“Medical affairs” is the broad term that describes the department within a pharmaceutical or medical device company that interacts with physicians and other healthcare professionals who utilize or are involved with research related to the companies' products. (added by Editor)

Key Findings

Sample key insights uncovered from this report are noted below. Detailed findings are available in the full report.

1. The majority digitally serve HCPs and KOLs. Opportunities exist to serve patients and payers as well.

2. Medical Communication and Medical Strategy lead strategy in mature groups, but involve 7 sub-groups in discussions.

3. Company websites are used by most companies, but only 6% say that they do so “very effectively.”

4. Five functions cooperate with Medical Affairs regularly around digital initiatives, with Compliance, Legal and IT the most common.

5. Virtual Ad Boards for digital interactions, online medical education for online programs and unbranded websites were channels rated most effective.

Industries Profiled:

Health Care; Pharmaceutical; Diagnostic; Biopharmaceutical; Biotech; Communications; Manufacturing; Consumer Products; Medical Device; Clinical Research; Laboratories

Companies Profiled:

Abbott; Alkermes; Allergan; ApotheCom; Astellas; AstraZeneca; Bayer; Boehringer Ingelheim; Chiesi; Eisai; EMD Serono; Ferring Pharmaceuticals; GE Healthcare; GlaxoSmithKline ; Heron Therapeutics; Incyte; Indegene; Ipsen; Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Merck; MSD; Novartis; Novo Nordisk; Pfizer; Roche; Sage Therapeutics; Sanofi; Sanofi Genzyme; Sanofi Pasteur; Santen; Seqirus; Shire; Sunovion; Vifor Pharma; ViiV Healthcare

ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LLC

Best Practices, LLC is a leading benchmarking, consulting and advisory services firm serving biopharmaceutical and medical device companies worldwide. Best Practices, LLC's clients include all the top 10 and 48 of the top 50 global healthcare companies. The firm conducts primary research and consulting using its comprehensive proprietary benchmarking tools and analysis. SOURCE Best Practices, LLC

Related Links http://www.best-in-class.com