Distribution or sharing of peer reviewed scientific/clinical journal publications with Medical Experts is typically subject to each pharma company’s legal advisors and interpretation of guidance documents (i.e.: “Guidance for Industry Distributing Scientific and Medical Publications on Unapproved New Uses —Recommended Practices).
In the current US survey, a slight majority of MSLs and MSL managers (64%/62.7%) reported that they were allowed by their companies to project/share journal articles during virtual meetings. Around 12% of MSLs and MSL managers reported they were advised not to share/project journal publications during their virtual meetings. While, roughly 20% of the respondents stated their company was still sorting out the appropriate and compliant process.
When sharing publications, caution should be taken when discussing research that highlights off label uses of products. Any publications of this nature should be at minimum peer reviewed and published in a well-respected high impact journal. Any off label discussions must always remain reactive to questions and not initiated or promoted by the MSL. Careful consideration of any article that contains off label information should be done by leadership prior to MSL use in virtual meetings to provide appropriate direction and consider whether a particular article can be used by MSLs other than to reply to specific KOL request for information.
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