Why Pharma Companies Can’t Survive Without Translation?

Key Points:

• Why Pharma Companies Need Translation.
• The Types of Documents Pharma Companies Translate.
• Translation of Regulation of Pharmaceuticals.
• How Much Do Pharma Companies Spend on Translation?
• How to Choose Your Translation Company.
• Working with Freelancers.
• Why Choose Contentech for Pharma Translation?

Pharmaceutical companies often need translation services for a variety of reasons; they may need to translate their product labels, packaging, and patient information leaflets into different languages to comply with regulations in different countries. Additionally, they may need to translate clinical trial protocols and consent forms, as well as research papers and other scientific documents, to be able to conduct clinical trials and publish their findings internationally.

The translation is also important for pharmaceutical companies when they are marketing their products to different countries, as they will need to translate marketing materials, advertisements, and other promotional materials. Finally, pharmaceutical companies may need to translate internal documents, such as policies, procedures, and training materials, to ensure that all employees, regardless of their language, are able to understand and comply with company policies.

What Types of Documents Do Pharma Companies Translate?

​​Pharmaceutical companies may need to translate a wide range of documents, including:

• Clinical trial protocols and reports.
• Patient informed consent forms.
• Drug labeling and packaging information.
• Marketing materials, such as product websites and brochures.
• Regulatory documents, such as submissions to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
• Research articles and publications.
• Training materials for sales teams and medical staff.
• Patient education materials, such as leaflets and brochures.
• Internal company documents, such as policies and procedures.

It is important to have these documents accurately translated to ensure that they are understood by the intended audience and to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

Translation of Regulation of Pharmaceuticals

The regulation of pharmaceuticals and their translations varies from country to country. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating the development, testing, and marketing of drugs. It has strict guidelines for the translation of materials related to pharmaceuticals, such as informed consent forms, labels, and patient package inserts. These translations must be accurate and faithful to the original content.

In the European Union, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for regulating pharmaceuticals. It has similar guidelines for the translation of pharmaceutical materials, including the requirement that translations be accurate and faithful to the original content.

In Canada, the regulation of pharmaceuticals is the responsibility of Health Canada which also has guidelines for the translation of pharmaceutical materials, including the requirement that translations be accurate and faithful to the original content.

It is important for pharmaceutical companies to adhere to the regulatory guidelines in each country in which they operate, as non-compliance can result in fines and other penalties.

How much do pharma companies spend on translation?

It is difficult to provide a specific budget that pharmaceutical companies spend on translation as it can vary widely depending on a number of factors. These factors may include:

• The volume of content that needs to be translated.
• The complexity of the content.
• The number of languages it needs to be translated into.
• The level of expertise required by the translator.

In general, pharmaceutical companies may be willing to invest a significant amount in translation services, as an accurate translation of important documents is critical to the success of their business. This may include:

• Clinical trial protocols and reports.
• Regulatory documents.
• Marketing materials, among others.

It is also important to note that the cost of translation services can vary significantly depending on the language and the region in which the translation is being performed. Some languages may have a larger pool of qualified translators, which can drive down the cost of translation. In other cases, the cost of the translation may be higher due to the rarity of the language or the level of expertise required by the translator.

How to Choose Your Translation Company

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a translation company for pharmaceutical content:

1. Expertise in the field of pharmaceuticals: look for a company that has experience and expertise in translating pharmaceutical materials. This is especially important because pharmaceutical translations require a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
2. Quality assurance processes: choose a company that has robust quality assurance processes in place to ensure the accuracy and faithfulness of the translations. This might include multiple rounds of review by both translators and subject matter experts.
3. Use of translation memory tools: Translation Memory tools can help ensure consistency in the translations and reduce the risk of errors. Look for a company that uses these types of tools.
4. Professional certifications: consider a company that has professional certifications, such as the ISO 17100 certification for translation services.
5. Customer service: choose a company that is responsive and provides excellent customer service. This will make it easier to communicate with them and address any issues that may arise during the translation process.
6. Cost: determine your budget and look for a company that can provide high-quality translations at a price point that works for you. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best choice, as you want to ensure that the translations are accurate and of high quality.

Working with Freelancers

If you are willing to contract a freelance translator for your pharma content, here are a few things to avoid when hiring one:

• Avoid hiring a translator who is not familiar with the specific terminology and language used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is important to have a translator who is familiar with the technical language used in pharmaceuticals to ensure that the translation is accurate and effective.
• Avoid hiring a translator who does not have experience translating pharmaceutical content. While it is possible for a translator to learn the necessary terminology, it is generally better to hire someone who has already worked on similar projects in the past.
• Avoid hiring a translator who does not have a strong understanding of the target language and culture. It is important to have a translator who understands the cultural context in which the content will be used to ensure that the translation is effective and appropriate.
• Avoid hiring a translator who is not willing to work closely with you and your team. A good translator should be willing to communicate with you and your team to ensure that the translation meets your needs and expectations.
• Avoid hiring a translator who is not willing to revise the translation if necessary. It is important to have a translator who is open to feedback and willing to make changes to the translation as needed to ensure that it is accurate and effective.

Why Choose Contentech for Pharma Translation?

Contentech stands out as one of the most important providers of medical translation services in the industry using a mix of human talents and tools to deliver the best language translation services in terms of quality and time to drive you in the right, safe direction.

There are several advantages that our company offers:

• Expertise: our team of experts is experienced and knowledgeable about the industry, and is familiar with the specific terminology and regulatory requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.
• Quality: we do apply strong control processes in place to ensure the accuracy and consistency of translations.
• Speed: we have the resources and infrastructure to handle large translation projects efficiently, and can deliver translations more quickly than many others.
• Confidentiality: we have confidentiality and security agreements to protect the sensitive information contained in pharmaceutical documents (ISO 27001 certified).
• Consistency: we help ensure consistency in the terminology and style used across all of your translated documents.
• Cost: cost-effective solutions.

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