Manhattan Research reports high use of Google and Yahoo!, and significant adoption of portable media players. The majority are using new forms of Internet technologies such as streaming media, downloadable audio content, and blogs. Additionally, 75% are interested in online customer service with drug companies.

Full Article from TechWeb.com
Related Article from iHealthBeat.com

Keynote Systems released a study analyzing DTC websites to determine which are most successful at driving consumers to the doctor to discuss a specific drug and why. Website topics focused on Latest News About Condition, Success Stories from Medication Users, and Expert Advice and Opinion correlated highest to subsequent doctor visits.

Full Abstract from Keynote.com

Google releases Health as one of its verticals within Google Co-Op. Google Co-Op, currently in beta form, is a service that relies on contributors from outside Google to label and categorize its search results. Google Health Co-Op is in its earliest stages, with search results labeled by contributors such as Harvard Medical School and Kaiser Permanente. Users are able to refine search results by various health-related categories.

The search engine can be tested here

Some of the bigger pharma players are spending anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of their marketing budget online now, and they could be doubling that in the next 18 months, media executives say.

Full Article from MediaPost (free subscription required)

MDLinx, which owns and operates a network of 32 medical portals and 36 consumer health portals, announced today it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with So-net M3, a Sony Communication Network Group company.

Full Article from Market Wire

"Podcasting for the Pharmaceutical The Newest Way to Reach Your Target Audience" is the subject of a White Paper published today by The Maxwell Group. In this paper, Maxwell offers podcasting as a way to improve declining physician detail access rates.

Full Article from eMediaWire

77% of pharma executives surveyed by MBC/DTC Perspectives say their DTC communications will focus on disease education going forward. Additional trends point towards greater emphasis on targeted vehicles such as email, search, and direct mail, as well as growth in emerging technologies such as video on demand, mobile marketing, and podcasting.

Full Article from Yahoo! Finance

Nielsen BuzzMetrics tracked pre- and post-approval buzz of four new drugs, finding that those that generated even small amounts of buzz prior to approval enjoyed a comparatively large and sustained increase in discussion among relevant populations.

Full Article from Marketwire