Case study

Cutting through the noise after FDA approval

Digital analysis revealed the real response to a newly approved drug and identified the voices that mattered most.

Revealing true reactions and influential voices online

Published
4 August 2025
Read
2 min
Sector
Early-stage strategy & opportunity mapping
Focus
Success stories
Cutting through the noise after FDA approval

The challenge

The client had just secured FDA approval for a novel therapy and needed to quickly understand how the market was reacting. While internal teams were preparing sales messaging and conference engagement plans, there was little clarity on how the news was being received online. The client needed to identify which stakeholders were shaping the conversation, how their product was being positioned relative to competitors, and how to turn that intelligence into action.

The analysis

We performed a rapid, targeted digital landscaping exercise. Our team tracked mentions of the drug across social channels, forums, and scientific communities in the immediate aftermath of approval. We segmented the data to focus on a niche subpopulation within a broader therapy area, giving the client clarity on their most relevant audience.

We benchmarked their digital share of voice against key competitors and ran topic analysis to surface the most common themes, pain points, and responses. By mapping both Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs), we identified who was driving the conversation and who could help amplify the client’s message going forward.

The solution

We delivered a tailored digital intelligence report that provided:

  • A breakdown of the client’s impact in the digital space following approval
  • A comparison of engagement and sentiment versus competitor launches
  • A list of high-impact clinicians and organizations active in the online conversation
  • Recommendations for engagement at upcoming conferences and within broader content strategy

The value to the client

The client walked away with a sharper understanding of how their product was being received, which messages were landing, and which voices could help extend their reach. This allowed them to refine their medical and commercial messaging and build more effective stakeholder engagement plans.

Ongoing support

We continue to monitor the conversation and keep the client’s team updated on emerging narratives, stakeholder activity, and changes in sentiment. These insights now support their digital strategy and conference presence across the product lifecycle.

Simon Leigh
Most teams only see the surface metrics after launch: likes, shares, impressions. But that’s not where strategic insight lives. What made this analysis so powerful was our ability to isolate the authentic signals: who’s shaping the narrative, what topics are resonating, and how sentiment is evolving in real time. That’s what turns digital noise into real competitive advantage.
Dr Simon Leigh · Director of Research

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