Pharma carving a place in cyberspace

It seems Pharma is finally taking a big step into the digital age.

The WSJ Health Blog reports this morning on how some pharmaceutical companies are flexing their online muscles, not so easy for a regulated industry, the WSJ site reports.

Johnson and Johnson has a Facebook page featuring Debbie Phelps (yep, the super swimmer's mother). They've got 4,800 "friends" so far. They also have the YouTube Health Channel.

Abbott has a Facebook page too, the article cites, and GlaxoSmithKline’s CEO has been appearing on YouTube as of late.

I'd agree that it's a good move on their part, as most young people I know are more likely to click on links, ads, and facebook pages online then respond to a TV advertisement. And they are probably more likely to see it, too. The question is, how far will the pharma companies push their products in light of FDA rules about advertising prescription drugs?

Heard of anyone else in pharma jumping on the www bandwagon? I'd be interested to know.

--Megan, the intern, The Sci