I worked all weekend to submit to the FDA the results of the Pharma Marketing News/Blog survey of readers about FDA’s Regulation of Drug & Device Promotion via the Internet & Social Media. As you may recall, the FDA asked for comments relating to the following 5 issues: Issue 1: Accountability Issue 2: Fulfilling Regulatory Requirements Issue 3: Posting Corrective Information Issue 4: Links Issue 5: Adverse Event Reporting Under each issue, the FDA included several specific questions for which it was seeking answers. Beginning on September 21, 2009, Pharma Marketing News/Blog hosted an online survey/ questionnaire that included all 19 of these specific questions.

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 3 PM ET, @pfizer_news posted this tweet: “Become a Fan of Pfizers official page on Facebook: http://bit.ly/aGX49f” About an hour later I was sent this DM: ‘Hi - Wanted to let you know that we just launched our official Pfizer Facebook page ( http://bit.ly/aGX49f )… hope to see you there!” I always make it my business to explore as many new pharma social media initiatives as possible

According to an Institute for Safe Medication Practices report (see here ) more than 1000 reports of patient deaths were received by FDA for rosiglitazone (AVANDIA) in the first three quarters of 2009, “more than any other drug we monitor.” In contrast, at least 34 deaths have been linked to Toyota vehicle problems going back as far as 2004, forcing Toyota to recall more than 8 million vehicles worldwide.

Yesterday, during a Pharma Marketing Talk live podcast/interview , Cynthia Phillips, who is currently Senior Director of Regulatory Labeling and Promotional Compliance at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and spokesperson for an adhoc Social Media Working Group (SMWG), told how her group met with the FDA in October, 2009, and presented the agency with a draft guidance on regulating social media. This draft guidance may be similar to the comments SMWG submitted subsequently to the public docket (see ” A Pharma ‘Social Media Working Group’ Submits Comments to FDA “). Soon after its meeting with the SMWG, FDA held a public hearing on Promotion of Food and Drug Administration-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools

GSK continues to use its “More Than Medicine” blog to focus on Avandia, one of its medicines receiving a lot of attention recently (see Steve Nissen to GSK (and FDA): “Put Patients First! It’s Time to Pull Avandia from the Market.” ). In an early-evening post yesterday, blogger “Michael F”, complained of the “misleading headlines stating that ‘FDA Report Advises Avandia be Pulled from the Market,’” which he noted “were re-Tweeted dozens of times.” Then he pointed out that other commentary, which GSK found to be “more balanced” gained less attention. Michael F cited “this piece in Forbes,” as his example of a “more balanced” account (see here or screen shot below in case they delete or edit the post; click for enlarged view)

My friend Jonathan Richman ( @jonmrich ) often sees the pharma marketing glass half full, whereas I often see it half empty. It’s just the way we are wired

“A preliminary study suggests the same type of botulinum injection used for cosmetic purposes — Botox — may be associated with reduced frequency of migraine headaches that are described as crushing, vicelike or eye-popping (ocular), but not pain that is experienced as a buildup of pressure inside the head, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology , one of the JAMA/Archives journals” ( see press release here ).

“Billy Tauzin,” reports the New York Times , “one of the highest paid lobbyists in Washington, is resigning as president of the pharmaceutical industry’s trade group amid internal disputes over its pact with the White House to trade political support for favorable terms in the proposed health care overhaul.” “Christopher A. Viehbacher, a board member of PhRMA and chief executive of Sanofi-Aventis, said in an interview on Wednesday that he still held hope the health care package could pass Congress.

In ACT I of Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot (rhymes with go) the character Estragon looks about and says to Vladimir, the other main character in the play: “Charming spot.” ( He turns, advances to front, halts facing auditorium .) “Inspiring prospects.” ( He turns to Vladimir. ) “Let’s go.” Vladimir says: “We can’t.” Estragon: “Why not?” Vladimir: “We’re waiting for Godot.” I was reminded of this play while listening to a panel discussion yesterday at the 9th Annual ePharma Summit in Philadelphia. At least one panel member — a pharmaceutical marketer who shall remain anonymous — advised attendees not to wait for the FDA to publish its much anticipated guidelines regarding regulation of pharmaceutical marketing on the Internet and social media sites