Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services -CMS- and Fortune 20 Pharmaceutical Companies Discuss Greater Emphasis on Evidence-Based Drugs as a Result of Medicare Part D and Reimbursement Changes.

NEW YORK -- On September 12-14, the world's original and largest gathering of pharmaceutical marketers and sales professionals will hear how certain therapeutic categories will grow due to Medicare Part D legislation.

"Brand marketers should be looking at their messaging beyond pricing and contracting and reposition their clinical profile now to stay competitive," says Heej Ko, VP of Conference Programming, Pharmaceutical Marketing Congress.

PMC will help the pharmaceutical enterprise evaluate the impact of the Medicare Modernization Act on drug product markets, marketing and most importantly, price. "Medicare Part D is a potential step in the right direction. Otherwise, price control is next," says Heej Ko.

New discussion topics include aligning price with product positioning, rebate and contracting case studies, building a pricing and reimbursement strategy for a launch product, centering the clinical profile and brand messaging for the senior population and how pharma companies will have to modify their Medicare Part D strategy after 2006.

SAMPLE OF SPEAKERS:

--Jeff Berkowitz, JD, Vice President, US Managed Markets, SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION

--Robert Donnelly, Director of CMS's Health Plan Policy Group Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)

--Saul Factor, R.Ph., MBA, Vice President, Clinical and Account Services, RxAMERICA

--Joel Owerbach, Pharm.D., VP, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Excellus Health Plans

--Mesfin Tegenu, M.S., R. Ph., Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Services, Keystone Mercy-AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan/Perform Rx

--Allan D. Brooks, Jr., Vice President, Public Sector Strategy and Sales, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB

--Gerry Gleeson, Senior Director, US Managed Markets Marketing and Operations, SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION

--Pete Clagett, MBA, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Contracting & Industry Relations, WellPoint Pharmacy Management

--Suzanne McDonald, Director of Government Affairs, TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS

--Randi S. Tillman DMD, MBA, Director of Reimbursement, Pricing and Reimbursement Strategy, ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS

--Victoria A. Wicks, Director, Public Policy, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, SANOFI-AVENTIS

--Pritpal S. Virdee, Vice President, Medicare Support Services, EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC.

TOP Focus Areas:

PMC offers the unique opportunity to understand and evaluate the many perspectives of industry players through numerous panel discussions, roundtables, networking receptions and interactive sessions focusing on the following essential symposia and track topics:

--Key Trends in Medicare Part D and Reimbursement

--New Developments in Medical Education

--Best New Practices in Global Marketing Strategy

--Integrating Product Safety and Risk Management Into the Product's Lifecycle

--Effective Strategies in Professional Marketing

--Sales Force Effectiveness/Detailing/eDetailing

--Marketing to Consumers

--Marketing to Patients, Patient Education and Compliance

--Managed Care Marketing and Formulary Positioning

--Lifecycle Optimization and Specialty Marketing

Featured Keynotes:

--Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Former CEO of IBM and Author of Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? will share his visionary perspectives on Leading Enterprise-Scale Transformation and also participate in a Question and Answer session on Key Learnings for Addressing Challenges Applicable to the Pharmaceutical Industry: Business Strategy, Brand Repositioning and Leadership Tips to Keep Moving Forward. He will also sign copies of his book in the exhibit hall on September 14, 2005.

--Now that Ray Gilmartin has stepped down, hear from Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, former CEO of Merck & Co., Inc. and Author of Medicine, Science and Merck will share his visionary perspectives on the changing pharmaceutical industry and discuss his latest book Medicine, Science, and Merck, which traces his career as he mastered three professions and ultimately became the Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc. Hear from Dr. Vagelos on September 13, 2005 at the Philadelphia Convention Center and hear his insights on the evolution of the pharmaceutical industry and Merck.

LOCATION:

Pharmaceutical Marketing Congress is on September 12-14 2005, in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

For more information and registration, visit www.pharmaevent.com or call 888-670-8200 or email [e-mail].

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