The Pharma industry has long waited for guidance from the FDA. They recently released a guide for the industry. It examines “emerging electronic media” and how Pharma/medical device companies should discuss not-officially-approved uses of devices and medications.

Three Main Points:

1. Responding to Misuse – A major issue keeping Pharma brands away from social media is the sheer volume of incorrect product information shared online. The new guide acknowledged the need for brands to respond. If asked in a public platform, brands can respond with company contact information. It takes the discussion offline while still addressing the customer’s query.

2. The Truth Prevails – The FDA found Pharma brands to be capable of responding to requests about their products “in a truthful, non-misleading, and accurate manner.”

3. Pharma as Thought Leaders – Now empowered with the freedom to respond to public queries, the FDA saw this as an opportunity for Pharma brands to help lead the general healthcare conversation in the US.

Key Takeaway: By freeing up Pharma to engage with public commenters, the FDA has opened an excellent opportunity for Pharma to expand their word of mouth marketing operations.

Read more about the report at Radian6