reinventing in-person events:

Building speaker programs
that drive change

Biopharma speaker programs are a unique and valuable channel to engage with health care providers (HCP), share important product information, and drive brand awareness.

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KOL speaking to HCPs
HCP and KOL shake hands

As part of managing a speaker program where thought leaders can share clinical insights and product information, pharmaceutical companies need to develop top-tier content and align engagement strategies with HCP preferences, while navigating rising costs and shrinking budgets.

managing resource constraints

Pharma marketing departments are facing shrinking teams and a high volume of programs, while also dealing with resource constraints.

 

increased their paid
speaker programs.1

 

per year was the preferred meeting frequency for HCP
speakers.2

 

increase in the cost
of meetings and
events in 2025.3

shifting expectations

A successful speaker program has always focused on providing captivating, accessible content that resonates but one-size-fits-all messaging will not meet expectations. HCPs want engaging and educational experiences that include ongoing collaboration and communication from pharmaceutical teams.2  Live, virtual, and hybrid events each offer unique strengths; optimizing value depends on letting each format play to its advantages rather than trying to replicate one across another.

 

of physicians want to
increase the share of
virtual interactions with
pharma companies.5

 

prefer a scheduled
webinar.5

 

of HCPs felt clinical skills
sessions would optimize
in-person events.6

moving from concept to execution

A successful speaker bureau can help pharma companies generate revenue, build brand awareness, support product education, collect market feedback, and enhance market access. It takes a lot of effort behind the scenes to execute a successful program.4

 

What’s more, fragmented workflows, redundant training and frequent regulatory changes can complicate the process and reduce HCP engagement.

prioritizing compliance

In-office lunch with catering

Pharma speaker programs are under intense regulatory scrutiny and biopharma companies face steep fines and penalties for noncompliance. A compliant speaker program includes qualified speakers and meaningful educational programming, venues that adhere to industry codes of ethics and regular audits, and risk assessments to ensure compliance.7

Through cutting-edge CMGO technology, Woven Health Collective offers efficient methods for ensuring compliance.

breaking down the details

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$
5057

Industry average cost per live (out-of-office) program.8 Out-of-pocket costs vary by region, venues, and number of attendees.

ICON_coral_staffing_team
5x—
10
x

Increase in speaker program expenses for in-person events compared to a less immersive virtual event.9

ICON_coral_drugs

 

60
%

HCPs that prefer learning about new therapeutic options during in-person meetings.5

 

enabling success

Woven delivers successful peer-to-peer programs by integrating scientific rigor, operational excellence, and purpose-built technology to create compliant, measurable, and impactful educational experiences that drive meaningful HCP engagement. CMGO, our secure, cloud-based platform, transforms speaker bureau management with features designed specifically for the life sciences industry.

References

  1. Medical Marketing and Media. “The 2023 Healthcare Marketers Trend Report: A trim off the top.”
    https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/features/healthcare-marketers-trend-report-2023-a-trim-off-the-top/. March 7, 2023.
  2. Petrus, C., Lam, H. “Considerations for Planning Effective and Appealing Advisory Boards and Other Small-Group Meetings with Health Care Providers: Importance of Participant Preferences. Springer Nature.
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40290-024-00531-0. June 28, 2024.
  3. Preview Meetings & Events. “Meeting Costs to Increase in 2025, Report Says.”
    https://www.prevuemeetings.com/news/meeting-costs-to-increase-in-2025-report-says/.
  4. ExtendMed. “Pharmaceutical Speaker Bureau Management in 2025: A Complete Guide.”
    https://www.extendmed.com/news-and-resources/pharma-speaker-program-guide#state. January 2, 2025.
  5. BCG. “For Physicians and Pharma, Hybrid Engagement is the New Normal.”
    https://web-assets.bcg.com/51/59/852465b04575a8fc9f7b69c1ec44/for-physicians-and-pharma-hybrid-engagement-is-the-new-normal-apr-2023-1.pdf. April 2023.
  6. Ram, S.S., Stricker, D. Pannetier, C., et al. “Voices of conference attendees: how should future hybrid conferences be designed?” BMC Medical Education.
    https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-024-05351-z. April 9, 2024.
  7. Medispend. “Strengthening Compliance in Speaker Programs: From Recent DOJ Settlement.”
    https://www.medispend.com/strengthening-compliance-in-speaker-programs-key-lessons-from-recent-doj-settlement/. March 8, 2025.
  8. IQVIA. “2023 Speaker Bureau Benchmarks Report.”
    https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/library/white-papers/2023-speaker-bureau-benchmarks-report.pdf
  9. Medpoint Digital. “Navigating the Transition to Virtual Speaker Programs.”
    https://medpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MedPoint-Digital_Playbook_2-28_FNL_web.pdf.