Bad For Pharma: Sales Reps And Patients Are Staying Home

Industry is limiting face-to-face interactions between sales reps and physicians, and some patients are sitting out visits, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. That poses big business challenges for pharma.

Lets stay home sign
Social distancing means some pharma sales reps and patients are staying home • Source: Shutterstock

A new business challenge for drug manufacturers navigating the coronavirus outbreak has emerged, as companies restrict face-to-face interactions between sales representatives and physicians, industry's longstanding tool for building brand awareness for new launches and gaining attention in competitive drug categories.

Many drug makers are asking employees to work remotely and limit external interactions, and for the pharmaceutical industry that also means limiting interactions with a big customer base – physicians, some of whom are overburdened amid the outbreak and some of

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