Pharmaceutical meetings are important industry vehicles where biotech and pharmaceuticals representatives, researchers, executives and vendors gather to hear about the trends that affect their business. You’ll need to keep up with the biotech conference circuit if you want to stay in touch with the industry leaders and the latest trends.

A biotechnology conference is a great place to meet a lot of vendors and potential clients in one place as well as attend seminars and hear noted speakers. Pharmaceutical events can be tracked in a number of ways.

1. Find out about a pharmaceutical conference through a trade association.

2. Follow biotech events in industry publications.

3. Get on a pharma marketing conference mailing list.

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Utilize your contacts to keep up with important biotech conference information

Pharmaceutical trade groups provide members with a number of networking opportunities through the numerous meetings, trade shows and conferences they put on for members. Pharma reps can get a plethora of sales leads at popular biotechnology events that are well attended. Researchers can find collaborative partners for joint projects at any number of pharmaceutical industry conferences nationally and locally.

I recommend: The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists puts on a multitude of meetings, conferences and trade show that you can attend and keep up with the industry trends. You can keep up with the many events that are offered to members of the American Society for Microbiologists through the membership page of the group’s website.

Read about upcoming pharmaceutical industry conferences

As you follow the news about recent medical discoveries and the latest projects that have received funding, you'll notice advertising and announcements for pharmaceutical sales conferences. Send for information to attend the conference and consider getting a trade show booth if you think the event will attract potential clients.

I recommend: Pharmaceutical Online can serve as a one-stop source of pharmaceutical events news and trends worldwide. Next Generation Pharmaceutical is another great source of events going on around the world as well as news resource and discussion line for industry blogs.

Receive pharma marketing conference invitations

Once you've attended a pharmaceutical conference, you should receive announcements of upcoming events well in advance to give you time to plan. Find a balance between large industry trade shows and smaller learning conferences to round out your company's exposure and to make the most of your resources.

I recommend: Biofind is a popular source of information about events in the United States and abroad for professionals in the biotech field. PharmiWeb posts conferences and events that cover all aspects of the pharma industry from emerging technology events to financial seminars and meetings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Send your marketing team to pharmaceutical sales conferences and allow research professionals to attend pharmaceutical industry meetings so that all of your team has an opportunity to travel and give your company maximum exposure.

Pharmaceutical meetings are a great way to learn more about the industry and to network with key players in your field. Whether you are interested in sales, marketing, continuing medical education, biotechnology or any other aspect of the industry, you can find pharmaceutical events where you can learn the most and meet people who can help you expand your business.

Because the pharmaceutical industry is a lucrative one, attending a pharmaceutical event like a pharmaceutical conference or a biotech conference can be costly. Of course, your time is also valuable, so when identifying the right meetings to attend you will want to:

1. Identify all the available pharmaceutical conferences.

2. Search for the right biotechnology conference.

3. Develop a schedule and a budget.

4. Explore all options.

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Make a list of all pharmaceutical events

Pharmaceutical meetings and biotechnology conferences occur almost every week in the United States and around the world. Make a list of all the events that are taking place by reading trade publications and subscribing to the right newsletters and groups. Once you have a list of all available meetings you can begin customizing it to meet your needs.

I recommend: Subscribe to industry publications like Medical Marketing & Media to find out about upcoming pharma marketing meetings. You can also become a subscriber at Pharma Marketing Network and get a list of conferences on a monthly basis.

Identify upcoming biotech events

Biotech events range from meetings that focus on the science behind a group of products to events that focus more on marketing strategies or clinical trials. You'll want to begin the process by making a list of available events.

I recommend: Healthtech.com provides a list of biotechnology events that is thorough and up-to-date. Biosymposia is another good source for identifying biotechnology conference you might want to attend.

Develop a budget for pharma events and biotech conferences

Request brochures and get on mailing lists for the groups that hold a lot of meetings. Consider the actual cost of the meeting as well as where it is being held, since hotel fees in some cities can be expensive.

I recommend: The Center for Business Intelligence will mail you a brochure if you ask them to. You can also find links to meetings at Biofind. Once you are at the meeting websites, you can find out about costs for individuals and groups.

Seek creative options for pharmaceutical industry meetings

If your company is new and your budget is tight, explore different options for attending meetings at a reduced cost. Some groups look for stringers--people who attend a meeting for free in exchange to reporting back to a magazine or online newsletter with a short article. If you want a more general look at the industry, you can find meetings that don't cost a lot because their goal is to attract a large audience fo physicians and other healthcare professionals.

I recommend: It's worthwhile to contact industry publications like Pharmaceutical Marketing Executive. PriMed sponsors low-cost regional medical meetings that will give you an overview of the pharmaceutical industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask people at pharmaceutical industry conferences what meetings they have found to be most worthwhile.

If you have pharmaceutical training, you know you must find pharmaceutical events for education and training. Regardless of whether you work in pharmaceutical sales or in a medical setting, you must be current on trends within this rapidly changing field. Also, states require from 15 to 60 hours of continuing education for pharmacists to renew licenses. In some instances your employer may take care of your training, but in other situations you may have to pay for your own continuing education.

No matter what kind of pharmaceutical or biotechnology conference you prefer, you can find biotechnology events that are just right for your needs. As you seek pharmaceutical meetings to attend there are a number of factors to consider, the most important of which is the cost of the biotech events. Other considerations include:

1. The amount of time it takes to participate in the pharmaceutical events. Remember to factor in travel time to and from the event as well.

2. The content of the pharma conferences. If the content isn’t specifically what you need at one conference, you may need to find different training in a different location.

3. The format of the presentation. Some training is available online, while other training is in a more traditional lecture setting.

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Enroll in classes offered independently or during a pharmaceutical conference

Find classes that you specifically need and enroll for them. Subjects in high demand are often available at pharma events as pre- or post-conference activities. It's also possible to find introductory classes at a conference that conclude online or through webinars.

I recommend: The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering offers a number of online pharmaceutical industry conferences and training webinars. Take an instructor-led pharmaceutical conference course offered by Corexel. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the basics if you are just starting out in a career in pharmaceuticals, or if you need a refresher course. Check a list from the U.S. Public Health Service for continuing education opportunities for pharmacists.

Participate in customized pharmaceutical events for education and training

If you are part of a large pharmaceutical company, you may be able to participate in on-site or off-site training offered by your company. Your employer can arrange the customized training events that you and your coworkers need to stay current with your jobs.

I recommend: Symbiotix can customize training for a biotech conference or coordinate information for pharmaceutical events. The company also offers online pharma conferences tailored to your company’s needs. PTi international works with your employer to set up pharmaceutical events for education and training. It can customize the delivery methods that best suit your needs.

Take part in pharmaceutical meetings offered by professional pharmaceutical organizations

You can participate in a wide variety of training opportunities as part of your membership in a pharmaceutical organization. Most professional trade conferences offer at least a minimal amount of training, while other meetings devote their entire agenda to training and education.

I recommend: Participate in one of the many pharmaceutical meetings offered by the Parenteral Drug Association. You can find its pharma events scheduled in many cities. Join the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives and participate in its pharmaceutical sales conferences. It also offers a training and certification program to help you to make sales at pharmaceutical industry meetings where you set up a booth.

Working in the pharmaceutical industry requires current knowledge of the latest breakthroughs, discoveries, drugs, trends and much more to ensure your success. Pharmaceutical events offer an excellent opportunity for gathering information, sharing information you possess with others and gaining professional networking contacts.

To improve the efficiency of your research into events, this guide serves as a jump-start by offering six key terms associated with pharmaceutical events, including online businesses that offer pharmaceutical event calendars and the names of specific recurring events. Terms include Pharmaceutical Online, Pharma IQ, pharmaceutical webinar, PharmAsia Summit, World Generic Medicines Congress Americas and pharmaceutical trade show booth.

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Pharmaceutical Online

Pharmaceutical Online is the name of a pharmaceutical manufacturing industry sourcing website. Besides offering an online product showcase, supplier directory and search service, it also publishes an events calendar, so you can plan your travel calendar for rest of the year.

I recommend: Find events of interest to you in the Pharmaceutical Online Events Calendar by either clicking on a particular month, skip down to the next section and type in the name of a specific event or look for upcoming events in the following section.

Pharma IQ

IPQC is a company that produces conferences, seminars and in-house training programs for different industries; one of its divisions, Pharma IQ, concentrates solely on the pharmaceutical industry.

I recommend: Learn more about upcoming pharmaceutical events in the U.S. and other countries at the Pharma IQ website.

Pharmaceutical webinar

Pharmaceutical webinars are online pharma events that save you money while presenting you and others attending with the information you need while you're in your office or on your computer at home or while traveling. Since a webinar is broadcast on the Internet, participants can view it from all over the world. Webinars typically include the same types of agendas and lectures you'd receive from traditional conferences.

I recommend: If the thought of attending pharmaceutical webinars interests you, explore the links inside the green bar near the top of the page at ExL Pharma's website to learn more about or register for the upcoming Computer System Validation in the Pharmaceutical Industry webinar.

PharmAsia Summit

PharmAsia Summit refers to a three-day annual conference in the fall aimed at biotech and pharmaceutical company leaders and executives. During the conference, attendees will gather information from case studies, panels, guest speakers and interactive discussions focused on capitalizing on the exploding pharmaceutical market in China.

I recommend: Gather more information on the upcoming first annual PharmAsia Summit so you can decide whether or not to register for this pricey event at the PharmAsia Summit web page.

World Generic Medicines Congress Americas

The World Generic Medicines Congress Americas is an annual event, now in its second year, designed to address global trends in and affecting the generic medicine manufacturing industry. The conference provides an ample opportunity for meeting and networking with other pharmaceutical company leaders and executives.

I recommend: Click on the links on the left side of the page to get even more details on this year's World Generic Medicines Congress Americas conference in Washington, D.C.

Pharmaceutical trade show booth

If you plan to attend any pharmaceutical trade shows this year, consider manning a pharmaceutical trade show booth to show potential clients and others what you have to offer. If you have an innovative drug or sales team, use a trade show booth to set your company apart from your competitors.

I recommend: Learn more about how DDA Medical can help you design a winning pharmaceutical trade show booth for the next event you attend.