US Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs' Budgets Average $31.4 Million

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwire - April 1, 2008) - According to a study by pharmaceutical business intelligence leader Cutting Edge Information, US medical affairs departments benefit from an annual average budget of $31.37 million. "Medical Affairs: Delivering Strategic Value" (www.PharmaMedicalAffairs.com) examines medical affairs structures, spending, staffing, and strategies.

While the average budget hovers around $31 million, individual medical affairs department budgets ranged from below the $1 million up to $100 million. This notable range in spending is not surprising as there are many factors that affect the resource levels of medical affairs budgets, including:

--  Overall company size, revenue levels and stock performance
    
--  Ability of the medical affairs team to negotiate resource levels with
    senior management
    
--  Ability of medical affairs team to demonstrate department value
    
--  Lifecycle stages of company's key products
    

Cutting Edge Information analysts found that medical affairs leaders tread on dangerous ground when requesting and negotiating funding. Ask for too little, and the given resources will prove to be inadequate. Ask for too much, and senior management may begin to view the medical affairs team as a drain on the company's resources.

"In order to get appropriate funding resources, medical affairs departments need to prove their value to the company throughout the year," said Amanda Zuniga, a senior research analyst and lead author of the report. "Another successful tactic medical affairs groups can employ to secure funding is to develop well-defined departmental objectives and to make their department accountable for achieving these goals."

"Medical Affairs: Delivering Strategic Value" (http://www.PharmaMedicalAffairs.com), was designed to explore pharmaceutical companies' medical affairs structures, resources and strategies. Based on in-depth surveys and interviews with industry executives, the report provides several best practices, which detail how leading companies adapt and thrive commercially while still remaining compliant. The study offers strategies for how medical affairs teams can improve internal communication and coordination, as well as negotiate effectively for additional resources.

Download a free summary of "Medical Affairs: Delivering Strategic Value" or purchase the report at: http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/pharmamedicalaffairs/PH112_Download.asp#body.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Elio Evangelista 919-433-0214