As science is continuously evolving, it is essential for the sustainability of firms’ competitive position to recognize and act upon opportunities in new research areas. Firms are likely unequipped to process the overwhelming amount of, often, incomplete scientific output on their own. Hence, they might benefit from social connections to scientists who can pass through helpful information by, either, being active in the research area themselves or by knowing others who are. This study examines the role of these social connections on firms’ ability to act upon scientific developments. The empirical analysis examines the entry behaviour of 133 biopharmaceutical companies within 290 disease areas between 1995 and 2002. The results signal that outsiders, scientists who do not publish in the area themselves, are inferior access points for information due to a lack of affinity, credibility, and information flow. In contrast, the information gathered from insiders - scientists actively publishing within the focal area - appear to strongly influence firms’ probability on entry. While this information can directly originate from the insider, it can also reach the firm indirectly originating from the insider’s co-authors in the area. In respect to this indirect information, the results signal that insiders are effective brokers, arguably thanks to their affinity with the area and the peer-review character of the scientific community. In sum, the study suggests that firms with ties to highly-connected insiders are more likely to pursue opportunities within a new research area.