Healthcare Drones Are on the Way!
Airbus and International SOS will soon begin studying the possibility of using drones or unmanned aircrafts to deliver medical cargo and supplies. International SOS, a medical and security risk services company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus, who will help to define and install reliable aircraft or unmanned aerial medical cargo deliveries as part of International SOS MedSupply services. The MedSupply program deploys medical supplies and specialist medical care and equipment to meet the requirements of preventive health programs or in support of a medical emergency in urban as well as unfamiliar and remote locations.
The two companies are working collaboratively with local civil aviation and maritime authorities in Singapore and Indonesia to develop potential medical cargo delivery pilot cases. If successful, this could be extended to International SOS operations globally. The ultimate goal will be to provide safe, secure, and enterprise drone delivery for hub-to-hub distribution of medical cargo, compliant with local regulatory bodies, for International SOS’ emergency evacuation or medical resupplying global operations. “We hope to develop a viable business partnership in which we can assist International SOS with unmanned medical cargo delivery,” Dirk Hoke, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Defence and Space, said in a statement, “This means using our cutting-edge technology to potentially save lives, and transform the medical and travel security industry.”
Salix Expands Opioid Drug Reach
Salix Pharmaceuticals officially launched their opioid withdrawal therapy to providers while initiating digital and print marketing and a consumer education app. The new treatment will have a larger prominence in the mainstream as it becomes a recognized non-opioid drug for withdrawal symptoms that occur days after the initial addiction-breaking therapies. These symptoms are often described as the worst flu of your life—including debilitating nausea, aches, pains, chills, and tremors.
US WorldMeds has partnered with the specialty pharma giant with the goal to incorporate the drug into opioid use protocols and comprehensive management plans for opioid use disorder. “Let’s get patients back in control, let’s get healthcare providers back in control, and give them an evidence-based medicine to do that,” H. Lee Warren, Chief Operating Officer at US WorldMeds, said in a statement. They’ll focus heavily on the patient app, Luminate, to get this job done. The app tracks Lucemyra doses, sends reminders, offers daily support messages and guided meditations, and also includes education, advice, and tips on symptoms and relief.
PAREXEL Remains RTSM Service Champ
PAREXEL’s ClinPhone Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) solution has been dubbed the leader of Interactive Response Technology for the second consecutive year by the Industry Standard Benchmark Report. One hundred and seven biopharmaceutical companies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia acclaim PAREXEL’s tech as the most preferred solution to the market. ClinPhone RTSM helps pharmaceutical sponsors balance treatment groups, eliminate selection bias, limit the predictability of treatment allocations, and accurately manage supplies to avoid “stock-out” while minimizing wastage.
Prix Galien Award Nominations Released!
Candidates for this year’s Prix Galien Awards, the Nobel Prize for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology products, have been chosen for their tremendous potential to impact human health. This year, 13 products will be considered for best Biotechnology Product, 20 for best Pharmaceutical Agent, and 10 for best Medical Technology. Among the nominees for the biotech category are Kymriah, Novartis’ acute lymphoblastic leukemia drug; AbbVie’s hepatitis C therapy, Mavyret; Eli Lilly’s breast cancer therapy, Verzenio; and Novartis’ Rydapt for acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and advanced systemic mastocytosis. They will all be in the running for best Pharmaceutical Agent. The Medical Technology category includes game changers such as Medtronic’s Implantable System for Remodulin and Boston Scientific Corporation’s AXIOS Stent and Electrocautery Enhanced Delivery System.
The Prix Galien USA Committee includes 12 renowned leaders from the biomedical industry and academia, including four Nobel Laureates, responsible for evaluating nominees. “The nominees selected by our independent committee of distinguished researchers and academics exemplify a brighter future for all patients worldwide,” Bruno Cohen, Chairman of the Galien Foundation, said in a statement. “Benchmark science is delivering results that will filter through the entire health enterprise, improving efficiency, enhancing quality, and delivering better outcomes in the real-world clinical setting. It’s both timely and proper that we gather on October 25th to celebrate the achievements of these researchers and innovators, whose work represents the next chapter of human progress in fighting disease.”
Sinclair Launches Streaming Provider Ad Campaigns
Sinclair Broadcast Group is launching the largest advertising platform exclusively focused on OTT. The company’s division, CompulseOTT, will offer clients commercials in 15- and 30-second periods on the most popular streaming mediums such as Roku, AppleTV, gaming consoles, SmartTVs, and streaming sticks. The ads will be seen on more than 100 of the top television networks and brands.
CompulseOTT distinguishes itself by offering over 2,000 individual segments for targeting the right viewer. This means the company moves beyond basic demographic targeting and allows marketers to tap into specific markets classified by behavioral characteristics such as “intent to purchase a mid-sized sedan” or “travel enthusiast.”
“The OTT ecosystem is complex and CompulseOTT makes the local buying process simple and seamless whether buying just one or multiple DMAs,” Brian Hunt, Head of OTT/CTV Advertising Sales for Sinclair, said in a statement.
Ryan Moore, VP of Digital, adds: “We then report daily on the campaigns with industry-leading, third-party validated dashboards. It is the best local ad product on the market. CompulseOTT already has over 500 OTT advertisers and is expanding rapidly into targeting with larger multi-DMA ad campaigns.”
MNG Direct Evolves into MNG Health
MNG Direct, long known as a top marketing partner for biopharmaceutical brands, will now become MNG Health as it launches bigger, more powerful initiatives and products for clients. Since 2015, the company has been focused on optimizing campaigns that allow biopharma brands to communicate their message effectively throughout all stages of a product’s lifecycle. Insights from hundreds of campaigns now culminate into a new product line based on proven strategies. “It’s about bringing simplicity and confidence to a marketing plan,” says Robyn Garrett, Vice President of Content Strategy, in a statement. “Instead of using trial and error, we help biopharma brand teams leverage our proven solutions and experienced experts.”
With FDA approvals doubling, and as healthcare becomes increasingly complex, busy healthcare providers are looking for timely, relevant, and valuable information especially about prescription treatment options. Mark Heinold, Chief Executive Officer, knows MNG Health will allow biopharma companies to meet this growing provider need. He states, “We understand that each brand’s story is critically important to the healthcare providers and patients whose lives will ultimately be impacted by these innovative medicines. Our job is to help biopharma brand teams build more powerful connections with the healthcare community so that their life-changing medicines are proudly prescribed with confidence.”
Evoke Group Acquires Giant Creative Strategy and Rebrands
Evoke is building on its health and wellness marketing services by acquiring Giant, to further consolidate various credentials and areas of expertise for clients who want to work with fewer agency partners on larger remits. Additionally, the agency announced it is simplifying its structure with the creation of a new singular global agency brand called Evoke, which is comprised of the complementary agencies and services within the group. The collective talent from agencies Evoke Health, Firsthand, Fabric, Traverse HealthStrategy, Nitrogen Health, Tonic Life Communications, and AboveNation Media will form the new Evoke.
“Evoke Group has always been about building and evolving—it’s just who we are,” Reid Connolly, CEO and Founder of Evoke, said in a statement. “That’s how you go from being a startup to unseating many of the largest and entrenched agencies in the world. Now, as one team, we deliver effectively and efficiently across all customer channels, audiences, and geographies. Few agencies in the market are as well suited with the scale of resources, breadth and expertise, and geographic reach that Evoke has today.”
Boston Scientific Acquires Vascular Disease Innovator
After investing in VENITI, Inc., a privately held company in Fremont, California, Boston Scientific acquired the company and its developed and commercialized VICI VENOUS STENT System for treating venous obstructive disease. Upon FDA approval of the novel medical device, Boston Scientific will pay the company $108 million as well as up to $52 million in payments. The VICI VENOUS STENT System reinstates proper blood flow to the heart and lungs in patients with venous obstructive disease, which refers to abnormal vein functioning that can prevent proper blood circulation and cause patients to experience pain, swelling, ulcers, and a diminished quality of life. The VICI stent is uniquely designed to withstand compression and maintain flexibility over the course of a patient’s life expectancy. Jeff Elkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of VENITI, said in a statement, “We are excited to see this stent technology become even more accessible to physicians and the patients they treat under the leadership of Boston Scientific.”
