Case Name :      Metabical: Positioning and Communications Strategy for a New Weight Loss Drug (Brief Case)

Authors :           John A. Quelch, Heather Beckham

Source :             HBS Brief Cases

Case ID :            4240

Discipline :        Marketing

Case Length :    12 pages

Solution sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

Cambridge Sciences Pharmaceuticals (CSP) expects final approval for its revolutionary weight loss drug, Metabical. Metabical will be the only weight loss drug with FDA approval that is also clinically proven to be effective for moderately overweight people. Barbara Printup, Senior Marketing Director for CSP, must develop the positioning strategy and marketing communications plan in preparation for the launch of the new drug. Printup must consider the consumer decision-making process and the interaction between the consumer who purchases the drug and the health care provider who prescribes the medication. Despite promising medical studies and consumer research, poor positioning of the drug in the highly competitive market for weight-loss solutions could spell disaster. Students analyze market research data and consider the optimal positioning strategy and marketing communications program.