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While big pharma continues to struggle with the use of social media to promote its products, direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC), the method of choice for American pharmaceutical advertising is alive, well and robust. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that big pharma is reallocating some its traditional DTC advertising dollars to deliver drug ads to mobile devices which are growing in popularity. 

According to a recent article posted on PharmaLive, drug companies are mainly using mobile devices —in addition to delivering ads—to “help educate patients and motivate them to seek, accept, and adhere to therapy.” In other words, to more effectively promote their products to improve sales and corporate profits. Regardless of the motive, medical communication agencies have recognized the trend and have responded by launching mobile divisions and initiatives at their firms. Some agencies are now generating close to 50% of their revenues from mobile initiatives and campaigns. Further, many pharmaceutical companies have finally realized that corporate websites can be more than simple placeholders on the Internet. To that end, the PharmaLive post notes that pharmaceutical brand websites are evolving into a robust resource structured to be easily searchable and maintained. Maybe a better understanding and use of social media is next up for drug makers.

Pfizer remains the leading spender and purveyor of DTC advertising despite a 15% overall decrease in 2010 as compared with 2009. PharmLive reports that the company allocated $903.8 million to brands such as Lipitor, Pristiq, Viagra, Chantix, and Lyrica. Of these brands, Pristiq saw the highest increase of DTC advertising in 2010, up 17% to $122.2 million compared to 2009.

As mobile media continues to grow, don’t be surprised if someone develops a TIVO-like fast forward app to skip all of the DTC ads on your iPhone or android devices.

Until next time..

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!

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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed important biological, genetic or other life sciences information quickly? Sure, you can Google the topic but it takes time to wade through all of the search results until you find the right one!

Carol Brown from Onlineuniversities.com sent me a list of the “100 Best Reference Sites for Science Students.” The list contains information for chemistry, environmental science and even geology.  I extracted the life sciences websites from the list and posted them below.  

1. Biology Online: On this site you can post questions in a forum, look things up in a bio dictionary, and read all kinds of informative articles and tutorials.
2. Everything Bio: Check out this resource to find a glossary, textbooks, images and a range of other online biology tools.
3. Life Science Dictionary: Try out this dictionary to look up life science terms and identify their meanings.
4. Molecular Biology Glossary: Students of molecular biology will appreciate this valuable research tool.
5. National Biological Information Infrastructure: Want to know and read about the research being done in the life sciences? Check out this site.
6. Biology Reference: You can look up loads of helpful biology terms in this online encyclopedia.
7. Biology Nation: From finding the best biology grad programs for looking up biology terminology, this site is a one-stop resource.
8. Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology: Search through this online dictionary to refresh your memory on the parts of the cell.
9. BioScience: With a dictionary, encyclopedia, links, software, and custom search tools, you’ll find more reference material than you could ever need on this site.
10. All Experts: Biology: Have a biology question you just can’t seem to find the 
11. Amino Acids Repository: Use this site as a reference on amino acid properties alone and in proteins.
12. Table of Standard Genetic Code: This site is a great reference when trying to remember which part of DNA goes where.
13. Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Don’t know how to say a particular term? No worries, this glossary will tell you and more.
14. Human Genome Acronym List: Don’t have a clue what the ASHG is? This site can help you look it up.
15. Genetics Resources on the Web: Search through this site for the best genetics resources the web has to offer.
16. National Human Genome Research Institute: This site offers a number of helpful educational resources for students young and old.
17. Genetics Virtual Library: Search by organism or topic to find the genetic information you need to do your homework.
18. Genetics Home Reference: Those studying genetic disorders will appreciate this quick online reference for conditions.
19. GeneTests: Even if you’re not in medicine, you’ll be able to find interesting and compelling information on this site.
20. Gene Cards: You’ll find a collection of concise information on just about every gene out there on this site.

While I can’t vouch for the quality of the  list, it looks to be pretty informative.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Studying!!!!!!

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The drug maker Eli Lilly and Co quietly launched a new website today for a program dubbed Lilly Phenotypic Drug Discovery Initiative or PD². According to the company, “The PD² initiative is a unique opportunity for investigators from external institutions to submit proprietary compounds for potential screening in Lilly's phenotypic assay panel. This highly collaborative process is enabled by a web-based application that facilitates efficient transfer of information between Lilly and the investigator. The PD² screening panel is currently comprised of five modules which are relevant to therapeutic areas of long-term strategic interest, including oncology, neurological disorders, and metabolic diseases. This panel may change over time to reflect additional research interests.”

Company officials believe that program will allow it to evaluate and possibly license treatments from biotech companies and academic institutions "that are never fully evaluated as potential drug candidates." The launch of the PD² website—perhaps the first of its kind—clearly sends a signal that pharmaceutical companies are reducing their reliance on internal discovery programs to identify prospective new molecular entities and are eager to enter into licensing deals to find and acquire them. 

Membership in the PD² requires that a legal representative from the investigator's academic institution or biotech company executes a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). Once the MTA is reviewed and approved by Lilly officials, the institution can create an account. Until that time, use of the site is limited to browsing only. I have no doubt that technology transfer offices at most major universities will be signing up for membership in short order.

I think the PD² initiative is an innovative and timely one given the massive reductions in R&D jobs that have taken place at many pharma companies over the past two years. Expect other pharma companies to follow Lilly’s lead.

Until next time....

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!

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 As many of you know, we launched BioCrowd about six weeks ago. Our membership is steadily growing and several early members suggested changes and improvements to the site. In typical Web 2.0 fashion, we listened to those suggested and decided to add several new features!

First, we added a new section to the home page called BioCrunch. BioCrunch will feature “fresh content” developed by BioCrowd members. Items that can be posted to BioCrunch include but are not limited to podcasts, PowerPoint presentations, manuscripts and possibly poster presentations. With this in mind, we urge interested BioCrowd members to send us stuff that you wanted featured in BioCrunch and shared with the rest of the community.

Second, you can now upload multiple files with discussion posts and add a single file to comments. Also, it is now possible to preview your comment or discussion posts (before you hit the send button) to insure that they are grammatically-correct and typo-free. 

Third and perhaps most importantly, we decided to publicly open the site so that RSS feeds from BioCrowd can be imported to other social media applications including blogs, Facebook and Twitter. It also means that member profiles and discussion posts are searchable by Google. However, all posted resumes and job listings will remain private and only available to BioCrowd members, i.e. you have to join to view them.

We are planning other improvements to BioCrowd—stay tuned for new updates!

Until next time….

Join Us and Be Part of the Crowd!

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Kevin’s selection of websites this month are almost exclusively devoted to RNA—not one of my favorite molecules (Kevin must have been thinking transcriptionally rather than translationally when he compiled the list). Because I’m not an RNA enthusiast (call me crazy) I will list t the sites in no order of preference: 1) Patrocles - The Database of Polymorphic miRNA-Target Interactions 2) RNA Editing Website and 3) The RNA Modification Database.

Kevin also reviewed a website on devoted to ichthyology and another that focuses on taxonomy. My favorite selection this month is theBrown Recluse Spider Bite Site a must read for all of you arachnid neophytes out there. Who knew that spider bites could be result in the loss of arms or legs?

Kudos to Kevin!

Until next time….

Good Luck and Good Websurfing (try Stumble Upon and post biojobblog as one of your favs)

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