Pharmaceuticals companies to monitor online chatter
by Brian Turner
Netrank, a UK consultancy firm, is in talks with several pharmaceuticals companies to use software to monitor blogs and internet forums to see what users of the drug makers’ products are saying about them.
The software is capable of finding and identifying thousands of messages a day so that they can be analyzed for positive and negative opinions that could affect the drug companies’ public images.
The head of Netrank justifies what even he calls “spying” by pointing out that the information looked at by his company’s software is in the public domain.
Additionally, he says that the service his company is offering is ultimately in the patients’ interest because it will let the companies respond more quickly to their concerns.
However, there are concerns such as those voiced by the patients’ rights lobby over how the information gathered would be used.
Some fear that such information could lead to direct advertising of drugs to consumers, which is currently banned in Europe. Netrank is currently in discussions with GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson concerning the service.
Discuss this in the Finance Markets forums
Story link: Pharmaceuticals companies to monitor online chatter
Add to Bookmarks:
Related financial stories to: Pharmaceuticals companies to monitor online chatter
- Wall Street gains on tech, pharmaceuticals
- Speech technology could open up online banking
- Japan charges companies on bid-rigging
- Japan to force companies to re-incorporate
- Car Insurance Companies Aim to Lower Premiums
- Courts, online claims service swamped by bank overdraft cases
- swiftcover.com launch online initiatives
- Japanese concern at US car companies
- Electric power companies gain in Tokyo
- Quotes online are fashionable
Previous: « Business in usual in Europe after no vote
Next: EU takes action over Boeing »
Visited 383 times, 1 so far today