Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs) work on behalf of patients but have limited resources. Pharma companies want to understand and better meet patient needs. The relationship between PAGs and their pharma sponsors has traditionally been at arm’s length.
Now more than ever, it makes financial and strategic sense for both parties to communicate and collaborate so patients ultimately profit.
PAGs can help improve pharma advertising.
PAGs may lead research initiatives designed to learn about the status and experiences of particular disease or condition populations. They may focus on shared insights from clinical trials and longer-term medication regimens. This could include information patients may not feel comfortable sharing directly with the maker of their medication. Unbiased, self-reported data can prove to be invaluable to pharma marketing teams in communicating a drug’s benefits. Patient information gathered by PAGs can even help in the development of next-gen treatments and medications by identifying concerns and accomplishments previously not revealed.
Advocates for awareness, acquisition, and adherence.
Communicating with patients and providers starts long before a prescription is written, or treatment is recommended. Launching a new drug, PAGs can help promote disease awareness and recruitment for clinical trials. Continuing to build share after loss of exclusivity (LOE), PAGs can help pharma companies create effective, ongoing messaging to patients letting them know treatment is available.
Respected by providers as authentic voices of patients.
In today’s world of time-pressed office visits, providers welcome a trusted source of continuing education for patients, especially those with chronic conditions requiring ongoing management. As a result, PAGs can help pharma marketing teams create messaging for physicians and healthcare providers, making them aware of treatment protocols as well as available patient education.
Patients and providers can both profit from pharma funded PAGs.
Insights gained from PAGs on patient adoption and adherence experiences can better inform pharma marketing. This invaluable knowledge can help in the creation of relevant, easy-to-use patient tips and tools, from apps to wearables to websites. By helping fund the efforts of PAGs, and seeking patient truths without influence, everyone gains—patient, provider, and pharma marketing. If your brand team would like to know more about working with PAGs for the benefit of patients and providers. Contact Jon or Hoon at RRx. Let’s talk.
Patient Advocate Foundation
A national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses.
Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network
Representing the perspective and interests of patients with rare diseases.
National Association of Healthcare Advocacy
Dedicated to improving patient outcomes through the promotion of the profession of health care advocacy through empowerment, education, and collaboration.
Chronic Disease Coalition
Through education and training, advocating on behalf of people with chronic diseases.
American Cancer Society
More than $3 billion invested in cancer research since 1991 to discover ways to prevent, detect, treat, and survive every cancer.
American Heart Association
Nonprofit funding cardiovascular medical research, educating consumers on healthy living, and fostering cardiac care.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease
Dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.
