Are you going to launch a new Sickle cell drug on the market? There are some obstacles to marketing it. A new marketing strategy can be helpful for marketing Sickle cell drugs.
July 2017 marked the first FDA approval of a sickle cell drug in 20 years. The product is called Endari, which is made by Emmaus Medical. Unfortunately, though, sickle cell patients were, for the most part, oblivious to the existence of this new drug. People with this rare, painful, and life-threatening disease are anxiously awaiting new sickle cell drugs, right?
The sickle cell drug marketing departments assumed this was wrong.
Endari is expected in pharmacies soon but there is so little buzz about it in the sickle cell community. Why? Emmaus Medical, like all the other companies about to do sickle cell drug marketing, skipped a step. That is gaining the trust of the Sickle cell patients community.
Sickle cell drug marketing obstacles
There are some obstacles when you are going to produce Sickle cell drugs and market them. Let’s check them out.
1. Fail to gain the trust of sickle cell patients
When you are going to produce Sickle cell drugs and want to market them, the first step is connecting with and gaining the trust of sickle cell patients. Most of the sickle cell drug companies fail to gain trust.
2. Depending on Hydroxyurea
Sickle cell patients are weary of new medicines because all they’ve had for 20 years is Hydroxyurea. That’s a chemotherapy drug that only works for 1/3 of sickle cell patients and brings with it typical chemotherapy side effects!
3. Fear of side effects of new drug
It’s no surprise that most patients don’t want to try a new drug. In their minds, new drugs mean new problems by way of side effects, and they already have enough health problems.
4. Lack of trust in pharmaceutical companies
sickle cell patients do not trust pharmaceutical companies. These companies have never done anything good for them. Instead, they appear to be out to get rich from their pain and suffering.
How to gain the trust of Sickle cell patients to boost your Sickle cell drag community?
First, get your sickle cell drug marketing department earnestly involved in the sickle cell community as early on as possible. Also, get several key sickle cell patients and hematologists on your side.
Getting involved does not mean sending the local sickle cell chapters and foundations around the country some brochures. It does not mean sending one of your scientists to speak at the support group meetings.
It is not limited to speaking at medical conferences and writing articles only for clinicians. Giving talks and handing out brochures doesn’t win these mistrustful sicklers or their hematologists over. Compassion, giving and time win them over.
Call them, go where they are, be helpful to them, talk about what they want to talk about, and answer their questions – even ones that have nothing to do with your drug. Let them get to know you and you get to know them. That’s how trust is built. It would be better if you consult with those who are already working on Sickle cell drug marketing strategy.
How we can help to be successful in Sickle cell drug marketing
As a sickle cell patient and gene therapy researcher, I’m very well-known for these sickle cell drugs. Moreover, I am an invited speaker at sickle cell events locally and nationally and have clients that are researching new sickle cell drugs.
I have my finger on the pulse of the sickle cell world, and I haven’t seen any sickle cell pharma company do this properly yet.
I can help you succeed in marketing your new sickle cell drug in the best way. Here are some of my strategies for successfully marketing your sickle cell drug.
1. Building Sickle Cell patients’ community trust
There are many educated sickle cell patients, like myself, who are willing and able to help companies. Let us help you tap into this market the correct way: slowly and steadily building trust and getting word of mouth referrals.
2. Inform the Sickle Cell patients community about other companies doing
Give the sickle cell community a chance to hear what Imara, Emmaus Medical, Sancilio, NKT Therapeutics, Global Blood Therapeutics, GlycoMimetics, Novartis, and other companies are doing for them.
3. Strategy to gain trust about Sickle Cell gene therapy
The strategy of gaining trust within the sickle cell community is important for sickle cell gene therapy companies too. So Bluebird Bio and others will need to gain trust as well.
Contact me if you want to discuss possible strategies. We can help you align your sickle cell drug marketing strategy with the personality of the sickle cell community. Our medical content writers can help you with the necessary content wiring for your new Sickle cell drugs.
