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Survey began 10 August 2010

This survey asks you to express your opinion anonymously about FDA's letter to Novartis regarding its Tasigna Facebook Share button and other recent warnings sent to pharmaceutical companies, especially with regard to social media and search engine marketing.

Take the survey Now!

See Resources & Further Reading below...

Background

Sensing that there are a lot of pharma marketers out there who are "angry as hell and don't want to take it any more," I (@pharmaguy) decided to host a short, VERY anonymous survey seeking opinions about FDA's recent letter to Novartis regarding its use of metatag text in a Facebook Share button (See Resources & Further Reading below...).

The timing could not have been better!

Yesterday, the big story coursing through social media was NOT FDA v. Novartis, but the story of how JetBlue attendant Steven Slater decided he had had enough. He cursed off his passenger nemesis via his plane's PA system, grabbed a beer, and exited via an emergency escape chute. I, among many other people, tweeted about it positively:

"Wouldn't we all love to pull the shute (sic) lever & escape into adventure like this JetBlue flt attendant? http://nyti.ms/bh2deF"

This plus the Tea Party movement may signal a new era of "had enough bullshit!" Which is good way to describe the comments I have collected so far in my little survey. The following is just one example:

"It's bullshit. The issue is not the metadata but the truncating of the data that will occur through any number of sources - and one that you correctly point out is natural search. This is a very slippery slope where the FDA should provide some options. It's a bait and switch that they listen to us and then crush us. What do they have against Novartis? Feels like they've been picking on them lately."

NOTE: This started out as a simple survey to see what people thought about one specific recent regulatory action by the FDA; namely a Warning Letter sent to Novartis regarding the website for their drug, Tasigna. The main issue in the violation was content that was shared via social media. You can read more about this with comments from industry pundits here.

What I would like to know is what people INSIDE pharma companies think of this (OK, if you work for an agency, that's OK too :-). You can give me your opinions using this completely anonymous questionnaire.

Since starting this little survey, the issue has now expanded to answer a more general question; ie, What do you think of the FDA's regulatory actions in general? Feel free to spout off specifically or generally! But try to focus on FDA actions regarding social media and search engine marketing.

Sincerely,
John Mack, Editor, Pharma Marketing News

Results of this survey may be summarized in Pharma Marketing News. After you answer a few short questions, you will be able to see the summary of all responses to date. No comments or other identifying information is included in the summary.

Results of this survey will be summarized in an issue of Pharma Marketing News.

Resources & Further Reading:

• Implications of FDA's Warning Letter to Novartis Regarding Facebook Share Widget
• Who's in Charge of Your 'Invisible' Metadata? WARNING: Don't Invoke the 'Invisibility Rule'
• Update on FDA Regulation of Pharma Metadata & Impact on Search

Survey Results:

• Results of this survey will be summarized in an issue of Pharma Marketing News.