Pharmaceutical Marketing Interview Questions and Answers
Pharmaceutical marketing team play a vital role in the pharma sector. They need to identify new business opportunity for driving the company from frontline. Here we list out few common interview questions and answers for pharmaceutical marketing job seekers to take a preparation.
Q. What are the sources of drug information?
Th ere are three sources of drug information: journals/clinical trials (primary sources), indexing and abstracting services (secondary sources), and textbook and databases (tertiary sources).
Q. How to develop an effective search strategy for drug information?
The following tactics should be followed after determining whether primary or secondary sources are desired.
A. Determine whether the question at hand is clinical or research related. Define the question as specifically as possible. Also, identify appropriate index terms (also called keywords or descriptors) with which to search for the information.
B. Determine the type of information and how much is needed (i.e., only one fact, the most recent clinical trials, review articles, or a comprehensive database search).
C. Ascertain as much information as possible about the drug being questioned and the inquirer’s association with it. Determine the answers to the following questions:
- What is the indication for the prescribed drug?
- Is the drug’s use approved or unapproved by major regulatory body?
- What is the dosage and administration of the drug?
- How to supply the drug?
- What is the storage condition?
- What is the age, sex, and weight of the patient?
Q. What do you mean by teratogens?
Teratogens are defined as agents that increase the risk of or cause a congenital anomaly to occur. These defects can be structural, functional, or behavioral in nature.
Q. What are the categories of drugs based on potential risk during pregnancy?
Th e FDA developed a classification system that groups drugs according to the degree of their potential risk during pregnancy.
(1) Category A: Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women have not shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities.
(2) Category B: Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus; however, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Or animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.
(3) Category C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect, and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Or no animal studies have been conducted, and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
(4) Category D: Studies—adequate, well-controlled, or observational—in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy may outweigh the potential risk.
(5) Category X: Studies—adequate, well-controlled, or observational—in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. Th e use of the product is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant.
Q. What types of agents used to treat migraine?
- Triptans: sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan, and frovatriptan.
- β-Blockers: Propranolol, Nadolol, Timolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol.
- Calcium-Channel Blockers: Verapamil, Nifedipine, Diltiazem, Nimodipine.
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors: Lisinopril.
Q. What do you mean by IBD and IBS?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a designation commonly used to describe two idiopathic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with closely related clinical presentations. Th ese diseases are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD).
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that interferes with the normal motility functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Th e disorder is characterized by a primary symptom of abdominal pain. Abdominal bloating is another common symptom. Th ese symptoms are associated with various changes in bowel habits, predominantly diarrhea or constipation, though some cases experience both or alternate between the two.
Q. What are the common choice of drugs for IBD and IBS?
- Sulfasalazine
- Rifaximin
- Probiotics
- Polyethylene glycol
Q. What do you mean by Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) refers to a group of disorders characterized by circumscribed lesions of the mucosa of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract (particularly the stomach and duodenum). Th e lesions occur in regions exposed to gastric juices.
Q. What do you mean by Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to the retrograde movement of gastric contents from the stomach into the esophagus. Reflux may occur without consequences, and thus be considered a normal physiological process, or it may lead to profound symptomatic or histological conditions (e.g., GERD).
When reflux leads to inflammation (with or without erosions or ulcerations) of the esophagus, it is called reflux (erosive) esophagitis. Most patients (50% to 70%) report typical symptoms but lack evidence of esophageal mucosal injury (nonerosive reflux disease; NERD).
Q. What type of H2-receptor antagonists are used in GERD management?
- Cimetidine
- Famotidine
- Nizatidine
Q. What is the mechanism of action of H2-receptor antagonists?
H2-receptor antagonists competitively inhibit the action of histamine at parietal cell receptor sites, reducing the volume and hydrogen ion concentration of gastric acid secretions. These agonists accelerate the healing of most ulcers.
Q. Mention the name of few common proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
- Omeprazole
- Pantoprazole
- Esomeprazole
- Rabeprazole
- Lansoprazole
Related: Clinical Pharmacist Interview Questions and Answers
Q. What is the mechanism of action of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)?
Th e gastric proton pump H+/K+ ATPase has a sulfhydryl group near the potassium-binding site on the luminal side of the canalicular membrane. Omeprazole sulfonamide (the active form) forms a stable disulfide bond with this specific sulfhydryl, thereby inactivating the ATPase and shutting off acid secretion. All other PPIs exhibit a similar irreversible mechanism of action.
Q. What do you mean by Dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia is defined as persistent or recurrent abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort centered in the upper abdomen.
Q. What do you mean by adulteration and misbranded drug?
The term adulteration refers to a change or variation from official formulary standards or from the manufacturer’s standards.
- If the drug consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance,
- If the drug has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions where it may have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health etc.
The term misbranding means that a drug is sold or dispensed with a label or labeling that is in violation of the regulatory authority.
- If the labeling is false or misleading in any particular,
- If the drug is an imitation of another drug, or if it is offered for sale under the name of another drug etc.
Q. What are the key skills required for the Pharmaceutical Marketing?
Negotiation, persuasion and communication skills helps candidate achieve quick success in pharmaceutical marketing career.
Q. What are the types of insulin?
a. Rapid-acting insulin: Lispro (Humalog), aspart (NovoLog), and glulisine (Apidra) insulins.
b. Short-acting insulin: Regular insulin (Humulin regular, Novolin regular).
c. Intermediate-acting insulin: Isophane insulin suspension (neutral protamine Hagedorn; NPH) insulin.
d. Long-acting insulins: Glargine (Lantus) and detemir (Levemir) insulins.
Q. What is the mechanism of action of Insulin?
Insulin exerts its effects in several ways, including the following:
(1) Stimulates hepatic glycogen synthesis
(2) Increased protein synthesis
(3) Facilitates triglyceride synthesis and storage by adipocytes; inhibits lipolysis
(4) Stimulates peripheral uptake of glucose
Q. Classify the oral hypoglycemic agents.
Sulfonylureas:
- Glipizide
- Glimepiride
- Glyburide
Thiazolidinediones:
- Pioglitazone
- Rosiglitazone
DPP-IV Inhibitors:
- Sitagliptin
- Linagliptin
- Saxagliptin
Biguanide:
- Metformin
Meglitinides:
- Repaglinide
Q. What is the mechanism of action of DPP-IV inhibitors?
Prevents the inactivation of incretin hormones (e.g., GLP-1) by the enzyme DPP-IV. GLP-1 works to stimulate insulin secretion and decrease glucagon secretion from the pancreas during hyperglycemia; thus inhibiting the breakdown of GLP-1 would allow for increased insulin secretion and decreased hepatic glucose production.
Q. What is the mechanism of action of Metformin?
Th e primary role of metformin is to inhibit hepatic glucose output, thus exerting beneficial effects on fasting blood glucose levels. Th e secondary role of metformin is to promote glucose uptake by fat and muscles, thereby improving insulin sensitivity. Thirdly, metformin has a minor role in decreasing intestinal absorption of glucose.
Q. Classify the common chemotherapeutic agents.
Alkylating agents:
- Chlorambucil
- Cisplatin
- Oxaliplatin
- Cyclophosphamide
- Ifosfamide
Antimetabolites:
- Capecitabine
- Cytarabine
- Mercaptopurine
- Fluorouracil
- Methotrexate
Mitotic inhibitors:
- Docetaxel
- Paclitaxel
- Vinblastine
- Vincristine
Antitumor antibiotics:
- Bleomycin
- Doxorubicin
Topoisomerase inhibitors:
- Etoposide
- Teniposide
Enzymes:
- Asparaginase
- Pegaspargase
Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors:
- Dasatinib
- Erlotinib
- Imatinib
- Sorafenib
Few Common Interview Questions on Marketing
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your biggest strengths?
- What are some of your weaknesses?
- Why do you want to change your job?
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