Knowing How Many Companies Use Various Social Media Outlets For Communications, What Impact Does The Recent Cambridge Analytica And Facebook Scandal Have On Our Company And Our Industry As A Whole?

A: WHILE TODAY’S HEADLINES ARE FOCUSED ON SOCIAL MEDIA DATA, I believe life sciences companies must anticipate the natural extension of these headlines toward health data. Assumptions about secondary use of an individual’s electronic health data are being challenged by the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) — with the removal of bundled consent — while policymakers in the U.S. have been making their own headlines reaffirming the commitment that patients must be in control of their health data. Life sciences companies must ensure their current and future social media strategies pertaining to accessing and using personal health data must rely upon permissioned use of data under the control of the patient.

CRAIG LIPSET
Craig is head of clinical innovation within worldwide R&D at Pfizer.