If you’re in the biopharma industry or aiming to enter it, one thing’s clear: Change is the only constant in biopharma. As a medical writer and medical communications professional, I like to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and the big changes that drive the sector forward.
But where do you find the right information? There seems like countless sources offering news, trends, and insights in biopharma. It’s difficult to know where to look first.
Over the years, I’ve come to rely on a few trusted resources to keep myself updated on industry-relevant news, sector changes and job opportunities, which I thought would be helpful to share.
Here’s my top five go-to-sights for staying up-to-date in biopharma:
1. Fierce Pharma: In-depth biopharma news
I discovered this website as an aspiring medical writer and never stopped using it. It offers daily updates on major happenings within the biopharma world, from FDA approvals to company mergers and acquisitions. Fierce Pharma is where I go to make sure I’m up-to-date on latest developments. Being informed about this can give you an edge in conversations, with industry experts. There’s also a Fierce Biotech and Fierce Healthcare versions of this daily monitor too.
2. PharmiWeb: Your portal for pharma jobs
When I need to find job opportunities, PharmiWeb.com is one of my first stops. This site not only offers job listings, but also a goldmine of industry-relevant resources. I particularly like the company directory feature that you can use to find pharma companies, medical device companies, agencies and recruiters in the sector. If you want to stay relevant in biopharma positions, you’ll want to bookmark this site.
3. BioSpace: Cutting-edge Biopharma updates and pharma careers
This is another key resource offering biopharma news and jobs. I find their career advice section particularly insightful as it covers topics in work-life balance, career development and job search strategy for biopharma professionals. BioSpace should be on your radar because the whole site is a wealth of information for the sector and even offers a podcast for those on the go who want to keep up-to-date with industry trends.
4. STAT: Industry news set in context
Whilst Fierce Pharma is my go-to for up-to-the-minute, business-focused biopharma updates, how biopharma touches on broader health and science issues is tackled really well by STAT news. This site offers broad health and medicine coverage (including biopharma) and also covers public health, scientific discoveries and policy changes. Personally, I find it helps with understanding the bigger picture and context setting for technological breakthroughs in the field. You can also sign up for their newsletters (The Readout is my personal favourite) to get the latest updates delivered to your inbox.
5. LinkedIn: Networking meets industry trends
Although LinkedIn is not biopharma-specific, its vast network of professionals across all sectors (including pharma) makes it an indispensable tool for keeping up-to-date with industry trends. I’ve personally joined several pharma-related groups where professionals share updates, trends, and insider tips.
Not only is it a great platform for staying informed, but it’s also crucial for networking (click here for successful networking tips). The connections I’ve made on LinkedIn have led to collaborations, freelancing work and even job interviews. It’s a must use tool for pharma professionals.
Summary
In the fast-moving biopharma industry, staying updated is essential.
As a medical writer, I’ve found five key sites that help me stay on top of sector news, trends, and job opportunities: Fierce Pharma, PharmiWeb, BioSpace, STAT, and LinkedIn. Each of these platforms offers unique resources, from breaking news to career advice and networking opportunities.
Which sites would you add to the list?
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