I applaud your candidness.  It's very refershing to see a Pharma Company being so transparent.  Let's see if it keeps up!

Hi, Steve and Katrina:

It was great meeting you at the Alli experience last week.  I'm so excited to be a part if the Alli First Team and I have to admit that I done so well on Alli for the last 7 weeks and even though I've lost weight (18 pounds so far, I've learned a lot in the process.

Can't wait to finally see Alli on the shelves.  This really is a great product and I love what it's done for me.

Cngrats, on such great work and be the way I love your ads.

Steve,

I am a member of The Alli first team, and I have been learning about Alli, and giving me feedback for over a year now.  I am 46, and have tried every fad diet, and weight loss pill out there, so when I started, I was a bit skeptical.

I would first like to thank GSK, and all of you who have worked to make Alli available to the public.  I realized very early on in the project, that your goal was to help people to truly succeed in changing their lifestle, and their mindset; and not just to market a "magic pill".  I have never seen a pharmaceutical company go to such lengths to provide such education, support, and valuable tools to the consumers who will buy their product.  This has totally changed my notions about the "greedy pharmaceutical industry".  Thank you all.

Secondly, using Alli for the past 7 weeks, has made such a difference in my life, my health, my attitude, and my lifestyle.  For the first time in my life, I am truly upbeat and motivated about my weight loss and fitness.  I have changed the way I look at food, exercise, and my self.  Not only are the pounds melting off, but I don't miss my old ways of eating.  I look forward to exercising each day and challenging myself, and suddenly I feel that if I can do this, I can handle anything.  This would not have been possible without the great corporate support and stewardship of GSK.  Once again, much thanks.

A best practice adage about corporate blogging is that there's gotta be an inside evangelist in order for the blog to work. Well GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has one in the form of VP of Weight Control Steve Burton. Steve is

Hey guys,

Welcome to the blogosphere.

My guess, Steve, is that you are excited about the early sales peak but are now scared that you may have underplayed the "treatment effects" - hence all the "oops" references on the blog as you try and mentally compensate.

Add to this the $150 million spend and...... well anyone would have an oops moment or two!

The blog idea is a good one.

Cheers

Many thanks to all of you at GSK for coming up with Alli.  Pharmabloggers everywhere really look forward to seeing your marketing efforts unfold with this one.

Best wishes:

Giles...

I must confess that I'd been hearing about alli via colleagues in other pharma companies when I spoke at their conferences yet it was Deb Weil's blog  that tipped it for me enough to check out your elegantly simple and straightforward blog.

Mentioning the "oops" experience upfront, in your rather oblique way added to your credibiity.  I have  friends who have added a second "mission" to their book reading group: supporting each other in losing weight.  since they have know each other for over 15 years and since they are all authors, I suggested that they visit your site and try alli.  Adding professional guidance and the community-building functions will provide everyone with helpful feedback and support.  Kudos to Deb W. and to your firm and team for taking this social media path.

P.S. I have no biz connection to GlaxoSK

John Bell looks behind the scenes of AlliConnect a community blog put together by GlaxoSmithKlein (the makers of Alli). So far it seems like a pretty honest and open site with a rep talking about his own embarrassing treatment effect.

...

Hi Steve,

I have read through your blog and I am very impressed.  I am actually doing a graduate class assignment and had seen the tv ad for this product.  I stumbled upon this site and noticed the blog.  Weight reduction is a real and serious issue. Over the years I have tried to help family and friends lose weight but to no avail.  I have found out that if the "true" commitment is not there then the weight will not be lost.

I have recently bought the Alli Kit and started the program a few weeks ago.  I found the manuals that it comes with very helpful and it explains exactly what I need to do in order for the pills to work.  I have change my eating habits, excercise 30 min a day and have not had any side affects.  I have been keeping a daily journal of what I eat and how many pounds and inches that I am losing.

thank you

eye

In the marketing profession, change is a constant. At alliconnect, we've recently had a change in leadership

In the marketing profession, change is a constant. At alliconnect, we've recently had a change in leadership

As a Sales Professional I can tell you "change is NOT a constant", change happens in the marketing world when a marketing approach fails and and the sales numbers dictate that management must make changes.   Last weeks Associated Press article that was picked up by over a hundred major newspapers said it best: "underwhelming sales performance"  First Quarter numbers were barely $6 million per month, not good when as it was launched a year ago the analysts were told this would be a billion and a half in 18 months and $150 million was being spent in advertising to make it happen.

History does repeat, and Roche's experience with declining sales of Xenical were for the same reason and the "treatment effects' are something you cannot market around by attempting to change people's habits and lifestyes.  A solution to the problems caused by the Treatment Effects is what the 'cure' for this problem is, perhaps the new CEO Andrew Witty will address the real problem hold alli back as the first OTC FDA approved weight loss Drug.