With elections in the UK just over (phew!), education, healthcare and the business climate have dominated the headlines. These topics are of fundamental importance in our industry: investment in education and the science base is vital to drive the success of knowledge-based economies of tomorrow. Worldwide, healthcare budgets are an issue as the human race lives longer and gets fatter – innovations in healthcare, at all levels: lifestyle management, diagnosis and treatment, are vital to maximise spending efficiency. And business – ours is one of the most entrepreneurial sectors helping to drive new businesses that contribute to economic success. It’s pleasing to know that the efforts we all make at the microeconomic level are contributing to the major macroeconomic issues of the day.

Sue Charles, CEO

Great design puts sales in the picture for Cobra

When long-standing client, Cobra Biomanufacturing, asked Northbank to help it drive sales and awareness through the creation of new sales materials, Northbank rose to the challenge with eye-catching design that helped portray key messages. Through the use of original photography, that broke the rules of “ don’t work with animals or children,” Northbank commissioned children as models to portray both a “human face” and “an innovative enquiring mind”. The theme has been applied to a suite of stunning sales literature and extended to a corporate brochure that clearly differentiates Cobra and positions them as a leader in the biomanufacturing field. View case study

Marketing communications gets a boost at Northbank

Northbank Communications has announced the appointment of Sarah Jeffery as Account Director with responsibility for developing clients’ integrated marketing communication and design programmes in addition to growing Northbank’s customer base. Full press release

Launching GxP compliant Biacore^® T100 for Biacore

Biacore is the leading supplier and market leader of protein interaction analysis systems. In response to an increase in the use of protein interaction analysis by users throughout the drug and discovery development process, Biacore developed the Biacore^® T100 system with support available for those working in GxP-regulated environments. At the same time, the new system was made more user friendly with comprehensive software wizards and performance improvements. Biacore saw the need for developing a system to service all stages in the drug development pipeline and Biacore^® T100 is the resulting ‘top of the range’ system. Northbank was taken on to help launch the Biacore^® T100 system as the leading protein interaction analysis system and raise the awareness of the value of protein interaction analysis from all stages, from early research to clinical development and post-marketing. View case study

Northbank’s financial communications activities expand further

With York Pharma and CeNeS Pharmaceuticals recently signed up as new clients, Northbank’s financial communications practice is off to a good start in 2005. These companies, which are both AIM listed, are focused on the treatment of dermatological and CNS disorders respectively. These new clients join Physiomics, the European systems biology company, which floated on AIM in December 2004, as part of Northbank’s rapidly growing financial communications practice. Full press release

Northbank grows Scandinavian biotech business

Northbank has added to its growing list of clients in Scandinavia with its appointment as PR counsel to Santaris Pharma and BioInvent International. In recent years, biotech in this region has grown steadily. Medicon Valley the location for both companies, is the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnological cluster in Scandinavia with approximately 60% of the area’s industry in this sector, forms the central hub of activity. Full press release

Satisfaction’s what you need…

When West Pharmaceutical Services wanted to carry out a customer satisfaction survey to gauge the current level of satisfaction of West customers, Northbank was called upon to provide initial-stage consultation, conduct the survey and recommend actions based on the survey findings.

In the life science industry, as others, having won customers it’s important to try and retain them. Today’s highly competitive business environment means that if customers are not satisfied with their purchasing experience they are likely to switch to competitors. More …

Annual report design for Oxford BioMedica

Oxford BioMedica, a long-term client of Northbank Communications, commissioned the Northbank team to develop its 2004 annual report. As in previous years, this was an exciting project for Northbank which utilised the skills of its design and account management teams to produce a creative and memorable report communicating Oxford BioMedica’s progress over the previous year through a series of key messages.

This year the focus was on the Company’s clinical progress in its key therapeutic areas: oncology and neurotherapy, its growing number of licensing deals, and strengthening of its intellectual property portfolio. To highlight these key messages in the light of a human healthcare theme, the design featured black and white photography of close up shots of the human body. The final product has a modern, abstract edge while creatively conveying the key messages and reflecting a mature established company. View case study

What’s in a name: re-branding Molecular Nature

Northbank Communications was engaged by Molecular Nature to re-brand the company as it transitions from a technology platform to a biopharmaceutical company. Founded in 1999 the company originally focused on developing a unique natural product chemistry platform that included a diverse portfolio of small carbohydrate-like compounds known as imino sugars (“sugar mimics”). In 2002, the company initiated a drug discovery and development programme focused on these sugars and their role in immunotherapy. This evolution in strategy triggered a desire to distance the company from its platform technology stance and transition to a biopharmaceutical company that would be credible to its key target audiences including the investment and pharmaceutical communities and the media. More …

Medical Futures Innovation Awards 2005 get off to a flying start

Medical Futures has appointed Northbank as its PR consultants to support its Innovation Awards for the third time in a row. Northbank was brought in to provide an initial publicity push for the launch of the 2005 Awards, supported for the first time this year by the Department of Health. In March Medical Futures held a glamorous drinks party for previous winners, judges, sponsors and other supporters to mark the opening of the Awards to entrants. Northbank’s CEO, Sue Charles, was on hand to present live interviews with three previous winners. For more information go to www.medicalfutures.co.uk. The Medical Futures Innovation Awards recognise and encourage innovation in all parts of the healthcare industry including the NHS, academia and private sector. More …

Northbank supports stem cell research in the UK

Last Autumn, Northbank was approached by the (now) successfully established not-for-profit, public-private partnership funded UK Stem Cell Foundation to assist in producing a proposal document that made the case for the establishment of the foundation. This was to be published in time to be circulated at the Labour Party Conference in 2004. The brainchild of Professor Sir Chris Evans and Stephen Parker, the Foundation aims to close the funding gap, which arises due to the perceived risk of investing in the translation of early stage laboratory research into clinical applications.

Northbank worked with Steven Parker and Sir Chris to develop punchy copy and a well-produced document that made a clear and compelling case for the foundation. The proposal was widely welcomed and several reprints had to be undertaken to meet the demand for copies. It reached the hands of senior policy makers, including Tony Blair, and was instrumental in securing the support of several high profile scientists, politicians and business people, including Sir Richard Branson, Sir Richard Sykes, Lord Winston, Lord May, Nick Jones and Steve Jones. The idea of a UK Stem Cell Foundation has generated considerable media attention and added substantial political pressure to ensure that stem cell research is funded appropriately to allow its further development within the UK. View case study

View the executive summary of the report