Key Opinion Leader (KOL)

Similar or Alternative Terms Meaning the Same Thing	Thought Leader, Opinion and Thought Leader (OTL)
Related Term(s)	n/a

Key Opinion Leaders are physicians who influence their peers' medical practice, including but not limited to prescribing behavior.

Source: Terry Nugent, Director of Marketing, Medical Marketing Service, Inc. (MMS).

Pharmaceutical companies generally engage key opinion leaders early in the drug development process to provide advocacy activity and key marketing feedback.

Often KOLs are chosen more for their high prescribing habits than for their knowledge or other attribute that would enable them to influence their peers. Physicians are more interested in true thought leaders who have credentials such as academic standing and/or have performed clinical trials.

"Pharmaceutical companies hire KOL's to consult for them, to give lectures, to conduct clinical trials, and occasionally to make presentations on their behalf at regulatory meetings or hearings." (see The Secret Lives of Big Pharma's 'Thought Leaders').

Article: "Developing Win-Win Key Opinion Leader Relationships"