How to Piss Off KOLs Posted: May 31, 2006 Key Opinion Leaders -- or KOLs as they are known by pharmaceutical marketers -- are physicians who influence their peers' medical practice, including but not limited to prescribing behavior. Pharmaceutical companies generally engage key opinion leaders early in the drug development process to provide advocacy activity and key marketing feedback. Pharma companies devote considerable time and money cultivating KOLs, often treating them to dinner meetings and hiring them as paid consultants (see "Gifts That Keep on Giving"). In fact, a whole cadre of pharma employees -- called Medical Science Liaisons or MSLs -- are in charge of the care and feeding of KOLs. It is a rare thing, therefore, for a pharmaceutical company to piss off KOLs they have employed as advisors, yet this is exactly what J&J may have done. For more on this subject, see today's post to Pharma Marketing Blog. | Return to Pharma Marketing Blog Topics |

Special Supplement Physician Education Key Opinion Leaders, Medical Science Liaisons, & CME More than ever, it is important to educate physicians about new drugs and to keep this education separate from the marketing function of the company yet aligned with commercial goals. This Special Supplement to Pharma Markeing News is critical reading for pharmaceutical companies and physician education service providers wishing to understand the new roles of key opinion leader physicians (KOLs) and medical science liaisons (MSLs) in the physician education process. TABLE OF CONTENTS Order and pay for this Special Supplement now using your credit card. ONLY $29.95 PDF file delivered to you by email (usually within minutes of placing your order). If you wish to pay by check or credit card off-line, please use: Printable Order Form