Raising Profile of PepTcell and FLU-v - an Influenza Vaccine

Brief

PepTcell is a UK-based biotechnology company created with the aim of combating infectious diseases such as influenza.

Flu strains mutate from year to year rendering vaccines ineffective against them. However, PepTcell, have developed a flu vaccine to tackle influenza, which targets the conserved, or unchanging, regions of the virus. As these regions do not change, the FLU-v vaccine could provide long lasting immunity against a number of flu strains, including avian and pandemic flu.

College Hill Life Sciences was hired to provide public relations programme which would raise the profile of PepTcell, in particular its Flu-v product with the long term goal of securing a government contract.

Objectives

• To raise the awareness and profile of PepTcell and Flu-v for consideration as part of the UK National flu preparedness programme

Method

• Northbank conducted a half day messaging meeting to define the key messages for each target audience, agree internal Q&A and the PR strategy
• Having defined the communications strategy, the necessary materials and tool kit were prepared to facilitate the media relations programme, including a white paper and animation
• Northbank provided recommendations to revise the current website structure and content. Northbank took responsibility for copywriting the new site
• Northbank facilitated a media training day for the key spokespeople for PepTcell to improve their skills with the media
• To independently support and herald PepTcell's novel approach, Northbank identified and briefed suitable key opinion leaders, as well as facilitating their availability for media comment
• Northbank recommended and worked in parallel with a public affairs agency
• Northbank used a poster presentation at the 2007 Options for the Control of Influenza VI Conference (Toronto) as a newshook for generating coverage

Results

• The story was covered by the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Press Association, Channel 4 News Online
• The story also appeared in BioCentury, Yahoo Finance, Gizmag, KRON 4 (San Francisco), Market Watch, PharmaLive, PipelineReview, Publicity Insider, Red Orbit, SAWF News (India), WFAA, WTNH, Obiectiv de Suceava, Medical News Today and News-Medical.Net

Client Endorsement

Greg Stoloff, CEO of PepTcell, commented: "Northbank's work has helped to raise our profile, creating a better understanding of our novel approach to vaccine development. The media interviews have proved invaluable in our discussions with government and prospective partners."

June 2007

To discuss our capability in this area please contact:
Katja Stout, Partner, Life Sciences
+44 (0)20 7457 2020
katja.stout[at]collegehill.com

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