News

Arbortext targets drug firms

• By Michael W. Bucken
• September 18, 2002

Content management system supplier Arbortext Inc. has turned to vertical markets in an effort to make its way through uncertain economic times.

The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based supplier of XML-based software for multichannel publishing today outlined a strategy for penetrating the Pharmaceutical industry. Marketing VP P.G. Bartlett told eADT that the firm has added capabilities to its core Epic software aimed specifically at the needs of pharmaceutical companies. The new capabilities include some new product capabilities to support this initiative, including: change tracking; an enhanced API, including support for Active-X; stronger integration with Documentum Inc.'s content management system; and digital signatures and watermarks.

Bartlett said Arbortext expects that new sales to drug companies can offset declining sales to high-technology companies that, until recent months, were Arbortext's hottest market.

Bartlett said pharmaceutical firms first approached Arbortext for help in managing huge amounts of regulatory and technical data, convincing officials of a significant opportunity in that industry. 'There are constant changes in the process [of drug making and approval],' Bartlett said. 'They need to keep all of that information together.'

Bartlett conceded that the firm's decision to add features for that industry came in response to queries from drug companies. The firm now is evaluating other vertical markets to target, he said.