Novartis tops managed care drug co. list
Friday January 29, 12:35 am Eastern Time
NEWTOWN, Pa., Jan 28 (Reuters) - Swiss pharmaceutical
Novartis AG again topped the list of drug makers that managed
care executives said best met their overall needs, according to
Scott-Levin's Fall 1998 Managed Care Pharmacy Executive
Promotional Audit.
Novartis topped the list in all four rankings since it first appeared in the audit in the spring of 1997, according to a statement released Tuesday by Scott-Levin, a division of consulting services firm PMSI/Scott-Levin Inc.
Novartis was recognized for its professional representatives, good product line, strong contracting, and overall support and understanding of the managed care industry.
Novartis' overall net score actually dropped 15 percent, from 66 in spring 1998 to 56 in fall 1998. However, this score was still 44 percent higher than that of second-place Hoechst Marion Roussel, the unit of German Hoescht AG.
Hoechst Marion Roussel saw a 15-percent increase in its overall net score, keeping its second-place ranking in the fall. HMR improved its rankings in the areas of contracts, value-added services and knowledgeable reps.
SmithKline Beecham improved its overall ranking by two places, moving up to third in the fall 1998 audit. SB also improved its ranking in the other three assessment areas: contracting, value-added services and knowledgeable representatives.
Zeneca remained steady at fourth place in fall 1998, but dropped in contracting, from second to sixth, and in knowledgeable representatives, from sixth to 13th.
Warner-Lambert and Glaxo Wellcome tied for fifth overall, and Pfizer jumped back into the top 10, tying with Merck & Co. for seventh. Pfizer improved its overall net score by 80 percent.
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