Are KOLs drying up? Praise be

Back in 2011 I heard from Cutting Edge Information on the subject of key opinion leaders (KOLs):

http://brodyhooked.blogspot.com/2011/06/keeping-kols-fat-and-sassy-these.html

I figured that once I outed them on this blog, they would know better than to send me any more e-mails, but apparently they are still at it; the cold-call e-mail that’s reprinted below arrived this week. The content would seem to suggest that Pharma firms are having greater difficulties finding “Key opinion leader” physicians (aka shills) due to the increased transparency requirements of the pending Sunshine Act. If this is the case, then of course it is what I have been advocating for years. I read both the e-mail and the attached detailed brochure but could not find a figure as to the actual cost of this 179-page report, so you’ll have to contact Cutting Edge Information directly if you want to buy a copy. (I have a feeling there might be some sticker shock…)

Unsolicited E-mail message:

Howard,

Key opinion leading physicians face pressure from increasing transparency via the Sunshine Act and organizational restrictions on pharma-physician relationships. Has your organization made the strategic, resource and operational shifts necessary to compete for KOL services in this new environment?

Cutting Edge Information worked closely with senior-level medical and KOL management executives at more than 30 leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to distill the latest strategies, benchmark data, executive insights and best practices that are enabling the top-performing KOL management organizations to continue to achieve results for their companies in our new report, “Pharmaceutical Key Opinion Leader Management: Effective Strategies for Segmenting Thought Leaders.” Use this report to:

• Benchmark extensive, deep thought leader segmentation data and analysis
• Prepare your KOL management team(s) to combat shrinking KOL pools
• Leverage third-party vendors’ expertise to develop and refresh robust thought leader directories
• Reach beyond traditional specialist KOLs to fill out thought leader listings
• Compare your company’s organizational structure, staffing and budget support to those of your peers and competitors

I have attached a summary document with more details about this new report for your review. I would appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions about how this report will be of value to you and your organization. Please call me directly at +1-919-433-0211 or reply by email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


REPORT SUMMARY:
Pharmaceutical Key Opinion Leader Management: Effective Strategies for Segmenting Thought Leaders
Pages: 178
Data Charts/Tables: 95+
Metrics: 500-plus
Companies Consulted: more than 30, including Boehringer Ingelheim, CSL Behring, Ferring, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi


ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AFFAIRS REPORTS:

For more information on any of our other medical affairs reports below, please reply by email and I will be happy to send a brochure:

1. Pharmaceutical Advisory Boards: Uncovering Clinical, Market and Payer Insights to Enrich Product Opportunities
2. Promotional Speaker Programs: Successfully Managing Speaker Bureaus and Recruiting Thought Leaders
3. Educational Speaker Programs: Medical Event Management and Recruitment in a Complex Regulatory Environment
4. MSL Activities and Performance Measurement: Harnessing KOL Relationships for Optimal Clinical Support
5. Managing MSL Teams: Budget, Staffing and Compensation Benchmarks
6. Medical Information Teams and Call Center Management


Kind Regards,

Jon Hess
Account Executive, Cutting Edge Information
1000 Park Forty Plaza, Durham, NC 27713
O: (919) 433-0211 | F: (919) 433-0220
Jon_hess@cuttingedgeinfo.com | www.cuttingedgeinfo.com