[January 16, 2013]

Top-Performing Pharmaceutical Companies Update Standard Response Documents Annually

To accurately respond to incoming inquiries, medical information teams must regularly review their standard response documents. These teams must keep tabs on their companies' ongoing clinical trials, as well as third-party trials that feature their products, to keep up with physicians' questions.

Cutting Edge Information's study, "Medical Information Teams and Call Center Management" found that the majority of medical information teams review and update their standard response documents annually. Forty-five percent of Top 20 pharmaceutical companies review their response letters yearly, as do 75% of Top 50 companies and 58% of small and biotech companies.

Of course, a significant amount of surveyed medical information teams review their standard response documents at other frequencies. Surveyed companies also reported quarterly document reviews at 18% of Top 20 companies, 25% of Top 50 companies and 17% of small and biotech companies Top 20 and small and biotech companies also reportedly conduct monthly reviews at 18% and 17% of surveyed companies, respectively. Top 20 pharmaceutical companies are the only ones to conduct weekly reviews (18%).

"Because pharmacokinetics, the mechanism of action and other fundamental product elements do not change, medical information teams may only revisit such points on an annual basis," said Ryan McGuire, Research Team Leader at Cutting Edge Information. "Quick literature scans ensure that competitors or other third parties have not conducted any new comparator clinical trials involving the product that may prompt an updated response document."

"Medical Information Teams and Call Center Management" (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/research/medical-affairs/information-teams/) explores staffing, resources and call center management for medical information teams at company headquarters and affiliate offices. Use this report to:

• Position and empower medical information teams as a central voice of the company
• Explore the growing number of medical information responsibilities and manage the entire function from internal operations to call center operations
• Leverage medical information teams' expertise to support internal functions, including outward-facing groups such as MSLs and sales forces

For more information about medical information and medical affairs benchmarks, contact Cassie Demeter at 919-403-6583.

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