Cegedim Relationship Management is set to push the button on a phased US launch of its online physician network Docnet in January.  

The network enters a market populated with well-established players such as Sermo and WebMD's Medscape and newer entrants like Doximity.  

To set itself apart from its rivals Cegedim will be looking to leverage its OneKey database of healthcare professionals and its partnership with technology security association SAFE-BioPharma.  

Cegedim said the forthcoming US launch of Docnet will adhere to SAFE-BioPharma standards that provide a “secure, enforceable, and regulatory-compliant way to verify digital identities”.  

To attract US members to its community Cegedim will use its seven million strong US OneKey database to 'pre-populate' HCP profiles, “instantly seeding Docnet with value on day-one for HCPs” and for its customers.  

The firm hopes life sciences companies will want to use Docnet to target and engage HCPs through services such as pre-disclosure spend reporting, private discussion forums and digital marketing programmes.   

Already available in six local language versions for European markets, the US version of the portal will line up alongside those for Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, and the UK.  

The full version of the US community will be in place by July next year, by which point Cegedim's goal is to have 75,000 users, its North America president Angela Miccoli told MM&M.  

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