PharmaGossip, originally a “bad boy” blogger and more recently twitterer, has taken advantage of a Google application called “SideWiki” to post blistering remarks on pharma websites all over the internet.  While there has been some discussion amongst individuals working social media in the pharma industry about potential problems with the sidewiki application, it appears that no one was quite prepared for the behavior exemplified by PharmaGossip. 

Sidewiki, a browser sidebar that lets you contribute and read information alongside any web page, has been raising concerns amongst many in the pharma industry due to concerns that postings could potentially be made that might technically violate federal regulations including restrictions on off-label promotion, adverse event reporting, or just plain bad-mouthing by any disgruntled individual.  Of course, malcontents have always had the ability to post jeering remarks on the internet (such as in blogs, discussion forums, etc.)  What’s particularly insidious about this new application is that comments posted become effectively attached to the maligned party’s site itself.

Here is a sampling of postings made by PharmaGossip: