As Australia’s premier life science conference, AusBiotech brings together all levels of industry to establish and develop client relationships, network with like-minded service providers and build awareness of their unique customer value proposition within the international life sciences community.
At this year’s event, My Medical Department had the privilege to connect with many remarkable Australian and international biotech leaders. Panel discussions and key themes covered such topics as: regulation, clinical trials, new markets, business development, emerging technologies and research translational strategies.
We found our interactions to be extremely gratifying and we would like to thank all exhibitors and delegates that we encountered for taking the time to stop by and discuss possible collaborations, introduce their services or even just have a chat.
We look forward to connecting and working with you in the future!
Contact My Medical Department, your independent medical consultancy, for Pharmaceutical and Medical expertise, anytime, anywhere.
Many products make claims about their health effects. This does not necessarily mean that they are therapeutic goods. However, the desire to extract more health benefits from our cosmetics and foods has made it hard to tell and raises the question: what is my product?
Depending on its use, it’s important to decide the intended purpose early. If you are not building the correct supporting evidence during development, you might find you need to modify your claims or re-do work to meet regulatory requirements. Here’s some general guidance on navigating through the regulations.
A therapeutic good is broadly defined as a product for use in humans in connection with; • preventing, diagnosing, curing or alleviating a disease or injury • influencing, inhibiting or modifying a physiological process • testing a person for a disease • preventing conception or testing for pregnancy If your product has one or more of these intentions it is likely a medicine or device and will be regulated as a therapeutic good.
Sometimes it can be unclear as to whether a product is a complementary medicine or a food. To start, product presentation may help determine whether it is a food. For example, orange juice is a food. However, if vitamin C is extracted, concentrated and marketed in a tablet with claims that it may ‘relieve cold and flu symptoms’ it’s considered a therapeutic good.
Foods may not make claims that are therapeutic in nature. They may not refer to the prevention, diagnosis, cure or alleviation of a condition. However, they can make nutrition content claims (e.g. good source of dietary fibre or source of vitamin C) and some health claims (e.g. enhances bone mineral density, reduces blood cholesterol, necessary for normal bone structure, contributes to regular laxation, contributes to heart health) if they meet specific conditions.
In addition to foods, cosmetics may not make claims that are therapeutic in nature. They also are not to refer to the prevention, diagnosis, cure or alleviation of a condition. Even if a product is intended to be a cosmetic, it may be classified as a medicine depending on its ingredients, the route of administration and if therapeutic claims are made on its label, or in advertising.
At the end of the day it can be hard to make the call as to which regulations apply to your product. Regulations also vary from country to country if you intend launching your product globally. It’s wise to consult a regulatory expert for advice to ensure you’re aware of the requirements.
Contact My Medical Department, your independent medical consultancy, for Pharmaceutical and Medical expertise, anytime, anywhere.
We live in a digital world. It has reshaped society and the way we interact so why hasn’t it re-shaped the pharmaceutical industry? Hiding behind the challenges of interacting digitally and treating it like an optional add-on, the pharmaceutical industry has fallen behind in a world that’s embraced a’ digital-first’ approach.
Communications of all types are increasingly intermediated through online platforms. Consumer hotlines and written responses are a thing of the past with customers becoming increasingly tech-savvy. Live chat does more than just allow customers another way to get in touch. It helps increase customer satisfaction by making consumers feel important.
92% customers feel satisfied when they use the live chat feature
42% of consumers say that they prefer live chat functions
Digital technologies have empowered consumers to seek information and interact in the way they choose, when they choose. 19 million people search health information websites like WebMD and twenty five percent of patients with chronic diseases visit support sites to interact with fellow suffers and discuss their condition. The medical community is digitalising too. 50% of doctors search Wikipedia for medical information. Peer-to-peer platforms are becoming increasingly popular and Twitter is emerging as a medium for specialists to swap news of latest developments. The internet is no longer a one-way interaction.
Live chat appeals to busy healthcare professionals and consumers particularly because of its accessibility and convenience. However, one of the biggest internal fears of digital adoption has been the level of perceived risk, particularly due to adverse event reporting requirements. Yet a 2014 study, funded by the FDA, examined 6.9 million Twitter posts and found that less than 0.1% resembled an ADR.
The pharmaceutical industry is an information intensive industry. A company-managed live chat can offer scientifically validated responses to ensure the correct use of therapeutics. Medical Information professionals have access to present, correct and valid information that they provide in response. Also, customer satisfaction has been known to increase due to the immediate and private nature of a live chat environment. It’s time to start interacting with your customer base. Don’t just have a voice, lend an ear.
Contact My Medical Department, your independent medical consultancy, for Pharmaceutical and Medical expertise, anytime, anywhere.
DIA brings together life sciences professionals from across all areas of expertise to engage with patients, industry, academic and clinical thought leaders and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders, providing an unrivalled platform to promote the benefits of conducting clinical research activities in Australia to a global audience. We engaged with global decision-makers and influencers in the biotechnology hub of 2018 that we would not otherwise have access to.
Our aspiration is to advance healthcare product development globally, for the advancement of human health.
