This past September, Med Ad News be- gan its now-annual search for the future of pharmaceutical marketing. We sought out young companies to profile that are provid- ing the most innovative and interesting prod- ucts, services, or marketing opportunities to pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare community. After reviewing dozens of nomi- nations, many of which were provided by our own readers, we narrowed the list to just three. Each of the three companies chosen by Med Ad News is very different in business model and products and services offered, but all of the companies do share one singular characteris- tic: that spark of creativity that makes frustrat- ed entrepreneurs say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Also, this year our three winners share another characteristic: a willingness to chal- lenge the status quo of pharmaceutical mar- keting practices, one through a rethinking of advertising strategies aimed at physicians and the others through digging deeply into the re- alities on the ground among doctors and pa- tients. In these companies, we see a little of what the future of our business might hold. Here are Med Ad News ’ three Pharmaceutical Marketing Ventures to Watch for 2009