Pharma Marketing Network Home

John Mack

Pharma Marketing Blog represents the opinions of
John Mack
Publisher of
Pharma Marketing News.



We accept advertising relevant to the interests of our members.
For more information, see:

Media Kit





Operated by:
VirSci Corporation
PO Box 760
Newtown, PA 18940
215-504-4164
215-504-5739 (FAX)
E-mail: infovirsci@virsci.com
Pharma Marketing Blog


My Humble Opinion
Pharma Marketing Blog
Other People's Opinion
Pharma Marketing Talk
A "Must Read" Blog for Insiders. -- Wall Street Journal A bi-weekly podcast. Listen and call-in live online or download to your iPod!

| Also see Pharma Marketing News OpEd Pieces |

Pfizer the Headless Chicken!

Posted: October 23, 2007

Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Jeffrey Kindler's decision to scrap an unpopular drug bucked an unspoken industry rule, according to a Wall Street Journal article ("Pfizer Breaks With Norm by Scrapping Drug"). Namely, products can linger on life support as long as they pose no safety problems.

The article makes a couple of references to Kindler's previous experience as a fast-food (specifically chicken) executive.

This reminds me of the story of Mike the Headless Chicken (read it here). Mike the Headless Chicken (April 1945 – March 1947; pictured above) was a Wyandotte rooster (cockerel) that lived for 18 months after its head had been cut off.

There's a parable here:

  1. Exubera could have been Pfizer's headless chicken and lived for 18 months if Kindler didn't kill it; or
  2. Pfizer is now a headless chicken until it finds another blockbuster drug.

You decide. Read today's post to Pharma Marketing Blog.

For more posts in related topic areas, see:

If you wish to receive notice by email whenever a post is made to Pharma Marketing Blog, please subscribe.

Enter your Email Address

| Return to Pharma Marketing Blog Topics |

Special Supplement
Physician Education Key Opinion Leaders, Medical Science Liaisons, & CME

PhysEd Supplement Cover It's a new era for pharmaceutical company support of physician education. New guidelines and regulations from various governmental and non-governmental regulatory bodies have come into play during the past few years. The second event defining this new era was the withdrawal of Vioxx from the market in 2004 and the subsequent re-emergence of the importance of physicians as "learned intermediaries."

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


Pharma Marketing News | Subscribe | Discussion Forums | Roundtable | Podcasts | Blog
Daily News Briefs | Surveys | Resources/Links | Glossary | Case Studies | Reports
Pharma Marketing Vendor Directory | Conference Calendar | Pharma Jobs
Advertising Information | FAQs | About Us | Privacy Policy

© 2007. VirSci Corporation. All rights reserved.