FDA Issues Draft Guidance for Industry's Use of Social Media to Reach Patients

Patients rely heavily on social media, blogs, and websites owned by companies, advocacy or non-profit organizations, bloggers, and medical/research professionals to obtain educational, medical and drug (or medical device) related information. Of these, the information provided by pharmaceutical companies, via social media or their websites, are among the primary sources; thus, a higher bar for accuracy is expected from them. 

While litigation averse companies put out sketchy information often limited to a copy of drug prescribing information, others combine it with subtle marketing messages (for example, in the form of patient stories) which may influence patients' choices, though very few include recent trials data or clinical experience on their website. Now FDA has released four draft guidance documents to clarify how and what information may be released via the web or internet communications that's in the best interest of patients. These documents are available here and here.

What are the Smart Apps in Oncologist's Phone

Last June, a Romanian start-up Cronian Labs released an iPhone app Skin Scan which claimed that it can help with early diagnosis (or warning signs) of melanoma.  The availability of Skin Scan at Apple iTunes Store was widely covered in the media (eg, read here and here).  And, it was also the first time I put medical apps on my radar screen.

There are now hundreds of medical apps, and it is not unsurprising to find oncologists and cancer researchers using a variety of these as reference tools, calculators and diagnostic aids.  Here is a short list: