eCTD Blog Enters The Pharma Blogosphere

When a door closes a window opens.... is that how it goes?

No sooner did we lose a member of The Pharma Blogosphere (Question Authority) than a new blog (eCTD) joins us!

eCTD blog is about the pharmaceutical industry in general, and the electronic submissions: the electronic common technical document (eCTD), the Product Information Management (PIM) and the Structured Product Labeling (SPL).

Not much else is known about who is behind this blog. So far, posts to eCTD are more about general pharmaceutical industry topics, including marketing, than about electronic/regulatory issues. But it's still early in eCTD's life cycle, so let's see how it goes.

The blog features the painting "Drug Store" by Edward Hopper who is probably more well-known for the painting "Nighthawks", which depicts famous actors in an all-night diner.

Commentary about "Drug Store":

"Most of the debate about managed care has focused on physicians and the quality of bedside care. Many have expressed dismay at one consequence of changes in health care, namely the loss of an ongoing relationship with a community physician. But similar changes, equally disturbing to some, have taken place in the pharmacy business, where the small-town corner pharmacy and the pharmacist who knows all of his/her customers and has time to talk with them about their medications are becoming things of the past. Chain, grocery store, even mail-order drug dispensaries have been heavily promoted by managed care organizations, driving out the small independent pharmacies. Hopper's homely storefront with its warmly glowing lights seems (unintentionally, of course) to symbolize that loss."

Maybe the author of eCTD chose this painting because he/she is an independent pharmacist who wishes to remain anonymous?