The power of social media

In our cover story this month, Danny Buckland looks at using the power of social media to break down obstacles preventing improved patient engagement.

As Danny says: “Social media is healthcare’s new superhero, full of high-flying promise and an armoury of positive patient and HCP connectivity, working to combat the obstacles standing in the way of improved patient outcomes.

“Its stage is expanding, with an ever-increasing number of search engines and platforms – from TikTok and Instagram to LinkedIn and Reddit – as the big tech players look to embed themselves as part of healthcare’s infrastructure.” Read more on page 26.

The article by Andrew Pitts looks at the next phase of oral GLP-1s and the three waves of innovation pharma leaders should watch. As Andrew says: “The approval of Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, has changed the discussion around oral GLP-1s. Until recently, the GLP-1 receptor was widely seen as a poor target for conventional small-molecule chemistry.
 
Injectable peptides proved that the biology worked, but an oral small molecule that could deliver meaningful efficacy remained a much harder proposition. Foundayo’s approval on 1 April 2026 shows that this barrier can be overcome.” Find out more on page 16.

Dan Williams’ article highlights a rare opportunity to incentivise development of new treatments for rare diseases, as investment in rare disease biotechs has increased since the FDA’s Priority Review Voucher (PRV) scheme was renewed. As Dan says: “When a company is awarded a PRV, it is entitled to a cut in drug review times from ten months to six months; alternatively, it can sell the voucher.” Read more on page 19.

Our December issue will look at the value of patient engagement – creating improved outcomes for both patients and pharma. If you would like to make your voice heard on this topic, please get in touch at sales@pmlive.com

I hope you enjoy this issue!

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