Early this morning, I mentioned Merck's recent wanderings -- into the "mobile application as marketing" world.
An anonymous commenter just offered an observation -- which, even if apocryphal, made me smile. So, I'll repeat it here, along with an entirely original graphic, to pay homage to the fine comment (see at right):
. . . .Anonymous said:
. . .wonder why the apps are for free?
Because good old Merck could not find a way to ensure the revenue would get to the right cost center. . .
I kid you not.
September 16, 2010 12:42 PM. . . .
Well, that seems plausible -- or, at least as plausible as the notion that Merck would give the app away to diabetics, and then only later, after the DTC advert rules are sorted out by FDA, in this emerging area -- start pushing ads to them, for Merck prescription products, related to their specific disease stage.
We'll keep an eye on this.
3 comments:
All the pharmas are giving away iPhone/iPod Touch apps, and they're not all aimed at consumers. Here are a few: Blackbag (Ortho-McNeil-Janssen, medical professionals), NovoDose (Novo Nordisk. medical professionals),
As for Merck, they oFfer FreeVree for Diabetes, iManage Migraine, iChemoDiary, Coppertone My UVAlert, Temodar Dosing Calendar(consumer), plus Remicade Dosage Calculator for Healthcare Professionals, Remicade RRP Matrix for Healthcare Professionals, DAS28 Calculator for Healthcare Professionals (Schering-Plough UK).
Personally, my favorite drug app is Generics - it tells you what pharmacies offer which generics in which quantities for 30/90 day fills, and at what prices.
Fabulous download, here!
Thanks Anon.!
I am particularly interested in keeping track of the DTC "freebie" apps -- as they are plainly aimed as "social marketing" (either immediately, outside the US, or in the near future, as US regs are promulgated).
Great to have this rundown -- and I agree -- the Generics app is a game-changer: knowledge is power.
Namaste, and do stop back!
You're welcome, Condor. Had to laugh - this morning, an iAd supported app I was using exhorted me to download Vree. I don't have DM, nor would I download a drug company sponsored app.
There are other good medical freebies out there - PubMed On Tap, ePocrates, a couple of ICD coding apps, a Google Scholar feed reader, et al.
BTW, The Merck Manuals are subscription-based, although the platform on which they run is free.
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