Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with other pharmaceutical software companies

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet blog or website that provides trust-worthy information on pharma project management software and attracts reliable posting participants.

I recommend: Keep up with the latest news and trends at Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News. Medical News Today provides daily updates and emerging news about the latest software and the discoveries it is enabling.

Read up on changes in pharma software

Pharmaceutical software news and trends continue to dominates many of the pharmaceutical and medical publications available online and in print. While you may get email alerts from your software provider, it's a good idea to stay on top of the industry as whole so that you can know about changes that may be ahead of your current provider's abilities.

I recommend: Regularly check the updates at Pharmaceutical News for the latest reports. Pharmacy Choice provides updated information, news and learning opportunities for pharmacy professionals.

Receive drug software alerts

Sign up for regular updates and email alerts to be sent directly to your email box to save time hunting for the latest information. Set up a separate email account to receive the newsletters and reports so that they don't interfere with your other business communications.

I recommend: In-Pharmatechnologist is a site that is set up to keep industry professionals informed of the latest news and trends. Get regular updates and important alerts from the FDA News by signing up with the federal agency.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a culture of sharing information at your business. Ask each of your employees to regularly read at least drug testing software newsletter or magazine and share the news and trends they've uncovered at staff meetings.

Guide to Pharmaceutical Software

Manage research and new product development with pharmaceutical software

By Paul Kocak

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Participate in webinars or tutorials or read case studies from pharmaceutical software companies

To navigate through the thicket of countless alternatives of software for pharma, familiarize yourself with the available bells and whistles. A good starting point is a discussion forum, webinar, tutorial, case study or newsletter.

I recommend: Golden Helix has online tutorials and webinars for drug discovery software, with staff support and training available. A directory of nearly 200 firms at ChemIndustry enables you to browse through hundreds of offerings of drug discovery software and other software for pharmaceutical applications.

Make sure your drug software facilitates compliance with regulatory mandates

The FDA's traceability requirements are an important part of any pharmaceutical R&D program. With bioassay software that allows replication of chemical configuration and analytical processes, FDA compliance is easier.

I recommend: SAS features a robust array of drug software, with built-in components to foster FDA compliance. To make compliance with the FDA's 21 CFR Part 11 rule, CambridgeSoft has e-notebooks that automate for chemical process and FDA compliance.

Attend user meetings or events to learn directly from drug information software producers and peers

Conferences, trade shows and meetings of user groups introduce you to the leading edge of pharma software development. This establishes relationships with vendors to make it easier to customize solutions for your firm.

I recommend: CambridgeSoft sponsors events worldwide with opportunities for product knowledge updates and networking. The annual INTERPHEX conference assembles pharmaceutical leaders, including pharma software developers, from around the world.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  At the outset draw up a matrix of the attributes you want in your drug software, then use that as a checklist against products you review.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Integrate drug information software into your systems

The user-friendly options available in the latest software make using it easy and accessible for any business now. Small, medium and large companies can eliminate the long meetings with research consultants and project managers in favor of desktop software that can facilitate the entire research operation.

I recommend: Pharmaceutical Online is a great resource for finding information that affects the industry through regular articles and features you can find to use for your company. Find a slew of sources for drug software information through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Go online for drug software solutions

You don't even have to download any special software to your systems if you choose to engage in a Web-based drug guide software program. These operations typically allow you a trial period, which you should take advantage of as well.

I recommend: Keep up with all the available information surrounding the emerging technology in drug software techniques through the American Institute of Biological Sciences. Find journals, reports and books that chronicle the drug software industry at Future Medicine.

Get your team to use pharma project management software

Once you've opened up the possibilities of running your own research by using drug software, you need to get your team on-board with the programs. Instead of calling on consultants to handle projects, your managers should be able to use their own desktops to display reports and manage research projects.

I recommend: Receive email alerts of software updates and find a slew of informational publications at Pharmaceutical Press. Drug Discovery Online is a great source to find informational articles about all the latest technology in the pharmaceutical industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before choosing pharmaceutical software companies, let your key employees try the free demos to see if they agree on the choice of programs. It will be easier to get buy-in from your staff if everyone participates in the final decision.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pharmaceutical distribution software

Pharmaceutical distribution software is a business software that assists with the supply and distribution of pharmaceuticals. It helps with tracking drugs, inventory control, sales management and procurement.

I recommend: IBS provides a detailed description of pharmaceutical distribution software.

Drug discovery software

Drug discovery software generally consists of biology and chemistry data management software, which helps to capture and analyze chemical and biological research related to drug development. It helps to store the information so that it can be retrieved from one central location.

I recommend: Drugdevelopment-technology.com discusses drug discovery software solutions.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing software

Pharmaceutical manufacturing software is software that helps with linking the manufacturing process of drugs into one system. It helps provide tracking for inventory, lots, quality control and date expiration. It also helps with keeping a database of drug product history.

I recommend: Marg Compusoft provides an example of pharmaceutical manufacturing software.

21 CFR Part 11

21 CFR Part 11 refers to the section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that discusses electronic records and electronic signatures. This code is important to pharmaceutical software makers because it provides the guidelines for how documents get submitted to the FDA electronically.

I recommend: Read the industry guidelines from the FDA website about 21 CFR Part 11.

Pharmaceutical software downloads

Pharmaceutical software downloads refer to the software that is available for personal digital assistants, related to pharmaceutical interests. These include databases of prescription drugs, medication management programs and medication dosage calculators.

I recommend: Biohealthmatics.com provides a list of pharmaceutical software downloads.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software

A term used in businesses, the pharmaceutical industry also uses pharmaceutical ERP software. It is a software system that allows for integration of information and processes in an organization. An ERP software is often thought of as coordination of drug delivery from the laboratory to the pharmacy.

I recommend: Tech-faq.com provides a broad definition of ERP, while Vormittag Associates provides an example of a pharmaceutical ERP software solution.