An introduction to
Medical Communications
Andy Shepherd
Senior Medical Writer
Who We Are
• Global, European, and US full-service
medical communications agency
• Offices in Oxford, Macclesfield
New York, and Sydney
New York
• ~60 staff of writers, editors,
account managers, account
directors, graphic designers,
conference specialists, and support staff
• Established for over 20 years
• Enduring client partnerships from early clinical
development to lifecycle management including
other client partners
• Part of the Complete Medical Group
Worldwide Network
Oxford
Sydney
Caudex Medical – Part of the Complete
Medical Group Worldwide Network
Approx 70% of our current business is with Global/HQ clients, 30% with domestic clients
Currently:
60 people in North America
290 in Europe
60 in Asia Pac
We are in the process of establishing capabilities in France and Latin America
3
Some of our clients…
Drug development
EMA/FDA review
process
Phase III
Post marketing
1000-5000 patients
Phase II 100-300 patients
Phase I
Preclinical
20-80 healthy volunteers
laboratory and animal testing
SALES
Discovery
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Patent
EMA = European Medicines Agency
FDA = (US) Food and Drug Administration
14
16
18
20 years
Patent expires
What is medical
communications?
Market
and KOL
development
Creative
design
Medical
writing
expertise
Multimedia
Strategic
publication
planning
International
meetings
management
What is it really?
•
Getting information about new or existing
drugs to the people that use or prescribe
them, from the people that make them
Pharmaceut
ical
companies
Doctors,
nurses,
pharmacists,
payers,
patients
What do doctors need to know about
the new drug?
•
•
•
•
•
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What is the condition the drug treats?
Why should I treat this condition?
How does the drug work?
Is the drug effective and safe?
How is this drug different from the others?
Are there any health economic implications?
Communicating a major trial
Congress abstract,
e.g. safety
Congress abstract,
e.g. efficacy
Congress abstract,
e.g. sub-analyses
Primary
publication
(efficacy and
safety)
Congress abstract,
e.g. protocol
Congress abstract on
other analyses
Primary publication on
other analyses
Series of satellite symposia
Time
Scene-setting
reviews
Results
available
Editorial
Letters to the Editor
Review articles in
peer-reviewed journals
Highly experienced in publication
planning and meetings
Projects delivered in 2010
• Communications plans
10
• Publication plans
11
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•
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Papers
Abstracts
Posters/presentations
88
170
167
Satellite symposia
Advisory boards
Stand-alone meetings
Steering committees
7
5
6
13
Acceptance rates:
Abstracts
92%
Manuscripts 98%
Reviews
100%
Ghost-writing:
Caudex position statement
Caudex is committed to working in
accordance with the principles of Good
Publication Practice and does not
engage in ghost-writing
What are we looking for?
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Education
• Minimum first degree in medicine, pharmacy or life sciences
• A higher degree and/or research experience is advantageous
Writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, scientifically
accurate, copy
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A positive, can-do attitude
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Well organised and able to plan work effectively
Proficient in standard software packages
(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Caudex trainee programme
•
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Trainees are usually recruited in pairs
Training syllabus, delivered through:
• Formal training sessions (internal/external)
• One to one mentoring and feedback
• On site experience
•
Clear objectives for promotion
Ongoing training
•
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Ongoing company and department training
for all staff
Recent examples:
• Medical writing skills
• CMPP programme
• Values workshops
• Drug development process
• Copyright law
• Software training
• Social media
Compared to working in a lab
Pros...
Cons...
Medical Writer career structure
Medical Director
Scientific Director
4 years
Scientific Advisor
Principal Medical Writer
Senior Medical Writer
2 years
2 years
2 years
Medical Writer
Trainee Medical Writer
1 year
•
For more detailed
information about starting
salary and salary scale,
please speak to me
afterwards
• Any further questions about
Caudex or MedComms in
general, please feel free to
contact me:
andy.shepherd@caudex.com