"Unless you're about to die or retire in the next three years, you really must sign onto the Web," said Bruce Berger, professor of pharmacy care systems at Auburn U school of Pharmacy. "There's simply too much information out there, and supplementing your knowledge is imperative," he said.
Unfortunately, though all the major pharmaceutical manufacturers have elaborate home and supplemental pages, the number of generic houses that are on the Web is small and the available information sketchy at best.
"That's surprising," said Ed Thwaite, of E. W. Thwaite Associates Inc., Totowa, N.J., referring to the lack of generic drug Web information. "You would think that they (the generic manufacturers) would all offer a site that would offer basic information about themselves and their products," he said. "That alone would be a tremendous time and resource savings for the company."
It is obvious, however that generic houses are beginning to see the value of the Web.
"Our site is very small," said Cindy Green, director of marketing at Allscrips Pharmaceutical Inc., a repackager located in Libertyville, Ill. The web page was launched this year and offers information on the financial status of the company, its e-mail address and other basic information. "At this point, the Web just isn't a big lead generating factor for us, and isn't a high priority," Green said.
Other companies are further along. The web site for Barr laboratories was also launched this year. It contains annual reports, stock exchange links, company press releases and hot news. There is also an e-mail address for those who want to communicate with the company.
"Our philosophy is the site is important for people to learn about and understand generics," said Charlie Mayr, director of corporate communications.
Comprehensive web sites are popping up for more and more generic houses. As an example, a visitor to the Fougera & Co. will find the company's entire product line, drug codes, sizes, comparisons to reference drugs, and therapeutic equivalency evaluations.
Unlike the major drug houses, generic houses would be more likely to place their emphasis on investor information and customer services.
"Branded companies often have web sites with clinical information while generic houses hold that information more confidential," Bob Pearson, professor of pharmacy care systems at Auburn, said.
Web sites will eventually evolve into important sources of information for consumers in the future.
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