Author Archives: Reid Paul

Supreme Court Strikes down Vermont Law, Upholds Rep Free Speech

By Reid Paul | Published: June 24, 2011
June 23rd was a good day for the pharmaceutical industry. The Supreme Court released two decisions that largely went pharma’s way. There was much rejoicing across the industry, and for good reason, business as usual won out. In PLIVA v. Mensing, the Court ruled that generic drug companies should comply with federal regulations instead of [...]
Posted in Legal | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Big Pharma Reps Still Competing with Local Players in Emerging Markets

By Reid Paul | Published: September 15, 2010
Although pharma is an increasingly global marketplace, the relative rankings of companies are becoming more localized — with significant variations — according to a new Cegedim survey of physician attitudes towards reps in the major western markets and Brazil, India, Russia, and China. According to the International Rep Quality survey, physicians tend to favor domestic [...]
Posted in Emerging Markets, Europe, Guest Blog, Marketing, Sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mass Gift Ban Repeal Efforts Fizzle

By Reid Paul | Published: August 4, 2010
An effort in the Massachusetts legislature to repeal the state’s ban on many gifts to healthcare providers has failed. The year-old ban is considered one of the most restrictive in the country, banning restaurant meals, various gifts and requiring reporting on transfers of value above $50. “This repeal effort was started by legislators concerned that the [...]
Posted in Legal | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Novartis Employees Get $250 million Payout

By Reid Paul | Published: May 19, 2010
A Federal jury in New York ruled against Novartis in a gender discrimination lawsuit, ordering the company to pay $3.36 million in compensatory damages to 12 women and $250 million in punitive damages to 5,600 others in one of the largest gender discrimination class actions in American history. The women charged that Novartis created a [...]
Posted in Corporate Responsibility, Legal, Sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cold Cuts: Merck Layoffs Loom

By Reid Paul | Published: January 7, 2010
Image via Wikipedia It is not just cold outside these days, as Merck & Co. makes some cold hard decisions. Following on the heels of its now closed acquisition of Schering-Plough, Merck is making significant job cuts across its operations. Some 16,000 jobs are expected to be eliminated in total as a result of the merger. According [...]
Posted in Strategy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment