Pharmaceutical Events

Learn more about the pharmaceutical industry by attending pharma meetings

Pharmaceutical meetings are a great way to learn more about the industry and to network with key players in your field. Whether you are interested in sales, marketing, continuing medical education, biotechnology or any other aspect of the industry, you can find pharmaceutical events where you can learn the most and meet people who can help you expand your business.

Because the pharmaceutical industry is a lucrative one, attending a pharmaceutical event like a pharmaceutical conference or a biotech conference can be costly. Of course, your time is also valuable, so when identifying the right meetings to attend you will want to:

1. Identify all the available pharmaceutical conferences.

2. Search for the right biotechnology conference.

3. Develop a schedule and a budget.

4. Explore all options.

 

Make a list of all pharmaceutical events

Pharmaceutical meetings and biotechnology conferences occur almost every week in the United States and around the world. Make a list of all the events that are taking place by reading trade publications and subscribing to the right newsletters and groups. Once you have a list of all available meetings you can begin customizing it to meet your needs.
Try: Subscribe to industry publications like Medical Marketing & Media to find out about upcoming pharma marketing meetings. You can also become a subscriber at Pharma Marketing Network and get a list of conferences on a monthly basis.

Identify upcoming biotech events

Biotech events range from meetings that focus on the science behind a group of products to events that focus more on marketing strategies or clinical trials. You'll want to begin the process by making a list of available events.
Try: Healthtech.com provides a list of biotechnology events that is thorough and up-to-date. Biosymposia is another good source for identifying biotechnology conference you might want to attend.

Develop a budget for pharma events and biotech conferences

Request brochures and get on mailing lists for the groups that hold a lot of meetings. Consider the actual cost of the meeting as well as where it is being held, since hotel fees in some cities can be expensive.
Try: The Center for Business Intelligence will mail you a brochure if you ask them to. You can also find links to meetings at Biofind. Once you are at the meeting websites, you can find out about costs for individuals and groups.

Seek creative options for pharmaceutical industry meetings

If your company is new and your budget is tight, explore different options for attending meetings at a reduced cost. Some groups look for stringers--people who attend a meeting for free in exchange to reporting back to a magazine or online newsletter with a short article. If you want a more general look at the industry, you can find meetings that don't cost a lot because their goal is to attract a large audience fo physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Try: It's worthwhile to contact industry publications like Pharmaceutical Marketing Executive. PriMed sponsors low-cost regional medical meetings that will give you an overview of the pharmaceutical industry.

 

• Ask people at pharmaceutical industry conferences what meetings they have found to be most worthwhile.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---