For Drug Manufacturers Bringing a New Product to Market, Gaining the Support of Influential Doctors Is a Mission-Critical Priority

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The advocacy of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) has proven to be among of the most effective and critical means of building product awareness in the medical and scientific communities. 

However, according to "Optimizing Key Opinion Leader Relationships: Best Practices in KOL Management," the latest 2012 update to an ever-growing portfolio of thought leader research, some companies are still struggling to gain traction in this critical space.

For example, more than one third of companies profiled in our research revealed that KOL management efforts are not "highly valued" within the organization.  Furthermore, some 28% of companies report being "substantially behind" the leading industry segment when it comes to engaging KOLs.

For organizations that have yet to maximize the impact of Key Opinion Leader engagement strategies, Best Practices, LLC's critical KOL Management report provides a powerful benchmark opportunity to drive improvement. 

This study – whose new data and insights can be rapidly accessed at the Best Practices, LLC Slideshare page – is based upon a benchmark field survey of 30 leading pharma, biotech, and medical device companies.  Overall, the research identifies a wealth of metrics and insights into the organizational structures, management strategies and tactics, and critical success factors associated with KOL management excellence in today's healthcare environment. 

Pharma executives in Medical Affairs and Clinical Affairs can rely on this benchmarking research to learn best practices in KOL management and discover how they can maximize KOL relationships to benefit their own products and therapies.

For a complimentary excerpt of the research report, go to: http://www3.best-in-class.com/rr1191.htm.

For more information on this study and other recent primary research studies, contact us at 919.403.0251 or at [email protected].

BEST PRACTICES, LLC is a leading benchmarking, consulting and advisory services firm serving biopharmaceutical and medical device companies worldwide. Best Practices, LLC's clients include all the top 10 and 48 of the top 50 global healthcare companies.

The firm conducts primary research and consulting using its comprehensive proprietary benchmarking tools and analysis. The operational insights, findings and analysis form the basis for our Benchmarking Reports, databases and advisory services to support executives in commercial and R&D operations.

Best Practices, LLC believes in the profound principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class companies.

SOURCE Best Practices, LLC