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Newsbank |
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Issue
7, June 2004 |
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| Welcome
to the Northbank newsletter |
| |
 Beware
what you wish for - you might get it! Consolidation has
been on the wish list for biotech investors for some years
in Europe. Then suddenly wishes came true (for some) last
month when Britain's flagship biotech company, Celltech,
was swept up by a surprise suitor in the form of chemicals
and pharma play, UCB of Belgium. Commentators decried the
loss of the British bellweather and the industry beat itself
up over the apparent inability of the UK biotech sector
to grow significant companies. But Celltech shareholders
were smiling.
Likewise
when Ultrafine, the successful private UK-based fine chemicals
company announced that it had been acquired by Sigma-Aldrich,
again some of the media reported that Ultrafine had “succumbed”
to the US-listed major. Surely "celebrates" would
have been more appropriate given that Sigma-Aldrich is the
most profitable chemical company and voted one of the top
ten best managed companies in the USA, operates globally,
serving over one million customers worldwide and will likely
invest in expansion at Ultrafine as part of its strengthening
penetration in the fine chemicals area. If that is “succumbing”,
the management is to be congratulated as customers benefit
and shareholders reap their exit reward.
For
Celltech too, consolidation will mean wider access to capital
and an instant global sales force, with the opportunity
to play a pivotal role in transforming UCB into a biopharma
major. If scientists can bring exciting science to market,
to help transform our lives and our health, creating jobs
and returns for investors, then the geographical location
of the company shouldn’t matter – life sciences
and fine chemicals are global businesses, consolidation
is inevitable and necessary, so whether the company is the
acquired or the acquirer, if it builds corporate strength
and a profitable future, then let wishes be granted.
Sue
Charles, CEO
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| Contents |
| Launching
PowderMed |
| Magnetic
attraction for ChargeSwitch |
| Nature
Reviews Microarrays Collection |
| HGM
in the news |
| The
Science Media Centre |
| Northbank
partnered events |
| Northbank
fastest growing PR |
| Oxford
BioMedica Annual Report |
| Syngenta
biopharma's new brochure |
| Northbank
appoints four new staff |
| Stefan
Platz |
| Event
round-up |
| New
business wins |
| Client
round-up |
| Meet
us at |
|
| In
brief |
|
Northbank Communications
is the fastest growing PR consultancy in the UK according
to PR Week’s top 150 league table published 23rd April.
The company achieved an impressive 288% increase in fee income
over the last year putting it 13th in the healthcare league
tables and 130th in the overall league. It is Northbank’s
first entry into the tables following its creation in 2002
through the merger of STMP and Charles Consultants. More… |
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| Northbank
was commissioned to produce its 2nd annual report for Oxford
BioMedica. This year, the brief was to create a report which
“stood out from previous years and other reports and
to create a bold and mature image”. The chosen design
theme was based upon a series of abstract artwork, specially
commissioned for the report, created in the company's corporate
colours to reflect its branding. This abstract look was supplemented
with cameo black and white photography of the company's facilities
and products to subtly integrate the scientific element. More… |
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| Northbank
was commissioned by Syngenta biopharma to produce an eye-catching
marketing brochure for BIO. Syngenta biopharma is a business
unit of Syngenta, a world leading agribusiness. The goal of
the brochure was to seek partners for in-licensing or co-development
of early stage antibody or protein therapeutics. It was designed
to leave a memorable and distinct impression. More… |
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| Northbank
is pleased to welcome four new members of staff. At the beginning
of April Dr
Jonathan Mill, Dr Marc Egelhofer and Katharina Winterstein
joined as Account Executives, and in May Dr
Douglas Pretsell started as Account Manager. Sue Charles
commented, “The new starters at Northbank add considerable
journalistic, scientific, PR, language and commercial expertise.
The appointments are indicative of the considerable client growth
we have had in the past year, and the further client growth
we expect in the coming year.” |
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| Stefan
Platz, 28, Account Manager, died on the 21st April as a result
of a tragic accident whilst on honeymoon in Oman. Stefan is
greatly missed by his colleagues at Northbank, his clients
and his many industry contacts. Responsibility for Northbank’s
Munich office has been taken on by newly appointed Katharina
Winterstein, whilst his client responsibilities have been
assumed by existing staff as well as by the four newly appointed
account management staff.” See
obituary…
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|
Northbank
in the press:
Float now before the biotech IPO window closes |
|
| Event
round-up |
|
Event
round-up
Northbank
reports from BioConvergence, BioEquity Europe 2004, Analytica,
Human Genome Meeting 2004, BioCapital Europe and BioSquare
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Launching an eye-catching new company: PowderMed Ltd
Launching
a new company can be rewarding but this is doubly so with
the launch of a spin-out company with powerful associations.
Northbank was appointed to do just that for PowderMed, a
new UK biotech company that was spun out of Chiron to a
team of VCs and management on 14 May. What makes the story
even more interesting is that the core technology of PowderMed
had been acquired when Chiron bought one of UK biotech’s
leading companies, PowderJect, in 2003. In fact the management
team of PowderMed are all former PowderJect people led by
Clive Dix, the former head of R&D. Add to this a £20
million fundraising, a deal with Glaxo SmithKline and a
ready-made portfolio of therapeutic vaccine programmes and
this becomes a story of major interest.
The
key objective in a company launch is getting the company
name known as widely as possible. In the case of PowderMed
the challenge was also to achieve coverage that focused
primarily on the company going forward rather than on PowderJect.
A strategy of advance briefings and assiduous detailed pitching
across the board generated coverage on Reuters, Bloomberg
and AFX, every UK broadsheet, all the major trade papers,
websites and the venture capital press. And the coverage
overwhelmingly focused on PowderMed rather than the past.
Commenting
on the launch, Dr Douglas Pretsell, Account Manager responsible
for the PowderMed account, said, “We are delighted
to be working with a company as exciting as PowderMed promises
to be and with the quality press coverage we were able to
generate around the launch. We look forward to continuing
our support as they grow.”
Full
case study…
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Nature Reviews Microarrays Collection: an integrated marketing
tool for Affymetrix
As market leader with a prominent market
positioning and effective marketing programme, finding new
ways to re-enforce your products’ benefits and drive
awareness in new and emerging markets is a challenge. Working
with its client Affymetrix, Northbank liased closely with
Nature Publishing Group (npg) to develop the concept for
the second in Nature’s “Reviews Collection”
supplements, the Microarray Collection. An integrated on-line
and off-line product, the Reviews Collection provides a
valuable printed supplement of 4-5 leading reviews selected
from across Nature’s Reviews journals together with
news editorials, sponsors’ advertisements and a sponsor’s
editorial. The supplement was circulated with magazines
of the sponsors’ choice from across the npg stable.
A full on-line version is available free for six months,
promoted widely by Nature and providing additional promotional
opportunities through banner and skyscraper ads, and editorial.
More...
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Magnetic attraction for ChargeSwitch™
Northbank
has created a campaign with magnetic appeal to promote
the new ChargeSwitch™ Technology brand for DNA
Research Innovations. ChargeSwitch™ Technology
has entered the well-established, crowded and competitive
market for nucleic acid purification systems, so a novel
approach was needed to draw the attention of potential
customers. Northbank created a visual theme around the
concept of laboratory fridge magnet graffiti and used
it to form the basis of an eye-catching campaign to
increase awareness of ChargeSwitch™ Technology.
Marketing
messages were spelt out in magnetic letters and magnets
carrying messages were used to pin product information
to a fridge door, creating striking imagery for use
in the campaign materials that included advertisements,
mailers and giveaways. The campaign was aimed at driving
recipients to the website, which has also been updated
by Northbank.
“The
most exciting aspect of the concept we created for DRI
is that it can be used effectively as a strong ongoing
brand theme and applied to future marketing materials,”
commented Chris Fisher, Creative Director at Northbank.
“It is memorable and simple; lab workers will
recognise the magnetic letters and associate it with
ChargeSwitch™ Technology – and there is
great potential for applying the theme to promotional
items!”
Full case study… |
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|
 |
Chimps, kangaroos and the super old at HGM2004
Northbank
had a busy few days at the 2004 Human Genome Meeting
(HGM) in Berlin in April. Northbank provided a media
relations function to support the Human Genome Organisation’s
annual conference and succeeded in attracting considerable
media interest in the meeting, both locally in Germany
and internationally.
Northbank
liaised with the media, inviting journalists from
around the world to attend, providing an online registration
service and distributing press information, by email
and through an online virtual press room. At the meeting,
Northbank hosted two press briefings each day of the
conference and ran a press room, providing core facilities
to the media.
Over
50 journalists attended the conference and the press
briefings were well attended, providing an interesting
forum for some debate. The conference was covered
widely in the German media, including all the major
German national newspapers and widely in the local
newspapers and on broadcast stations. Several items
were also picked up by international news outlets
and the BBC ran one story on each day of the conference
on television, radio and online.
Pleased
with the press coverage of the meeting, Cathy Pole,
Executive Director of HUGO commented, “The press
function provided by Northbank Communications was
superbly managed and the coverage we received was,
in my opinion, excellent.” Full
case study...
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| The
Science Media Centre
For journalists
looking for sources of information and comment when science
news stories break, the Science Media Centre (SMC) has become
an invaluable service. (www.ScienceMediaCentre.org)
Simon
Pearson, night editor on The Times, summed up the realities
of life on a daily newspaper when he told scientists, "There
is one basic truth about journalism. Ask the question, 'Do
you want it good, or do you want it now?' And there is only
one answer." The SMC works to ensure that when major
science stories break, the national news journalists do have
it good and do have it now. Whether it's the latest stem cell
breakthrough, cloning claims or gene therapy, journalists
need no longer struggle to find a good scientist and accurate
information. SMC briefings have also become an important vehicle
for the scientific community to speak out on issues of shared
concern. Policy makers and politicians couldn't fail to see
the media coverage of SMC briefings on the threats posed to
scientific research from the EU Clinical Trials and Stem Cell
directives to the early drafts of the Human Tissue Bill. Northbank
has worked with the SMC on several news stories, including
a media briefing on gene therapy.
Your help
is needed to ensure that SMC continues in the future. It is
a charity and is funded by generous donations. The SMC is
actively seeking donations and sponsors – to discuss
how your support can help the SMC, call Fiona Fox on +44 (0)20
7670 2980. Donations by cheque should be sent to 21 Albemarle
Street, London, W1S 4BS. |
|
|
Events
we are supporting
Northbank
works closely with many conferences, providing a variety of
PR, marketing support and sponsorship. For the events below
we have negotiated discounted rates: for details contact e.marriage@northbankcommunications.com |
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| June
21-23, Hilton Munich Park, Munich |
1-3
September, Manchester International Convention
Centre |
October
5-6, Swissôtel, Zurich |
December
9, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London |
| The
Biotech & Finance Forum is the leading European
event focused on private biotech companies. An
initiative of the European Commission, the BFF
is organised by Europe Unlimited and run in association
with EuropaBio. |
Genomes
to Systems brings together researchers, biotech
and pharmaceutical executives, technology transfer
and service providers working in the field of
post-genome science. This year’s event focuses
on post-genomic technologies and their impact
on scientific, healthcare and ethical issues,
featuring world experts including Tom Blundell,
Ho-Am prize winner, Stuart Kim, Nobel Laureate
Robert Huber and many more. |
An
important annual meeting held in Europe for leading
institutional investors (money managers, LPs,
VCs), pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Plenary
panels with renowned international speakers with
presenting opportunities for listed and unlisted
biotech / medtech companies. |
The
one-day meeting, located at the centre of a major
European hub for scientific development and investment,
is designed to maximise networking opportunities
for its investor, biotech and pharma attendees. |
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New
business wins
Since
March Northbank has….been appointed by Scancell
as its PR and communications advisors…been selected
by West Pharmaceuticals to provide strategic counsel…been
appointed by Sachs Bloomberg as sponsors for the
Biotech in Europe Investor Forum…been hired
by the newly created company PowderMed as its PR
and communications advisors and to provide media support
around its launch…been appointed by Olympus
to write a technology article…been asked by E-Unlimited
to provide media outreach around June’s Biotech
& Finance Forum…been appointed by Evolutec
to develop its new website…won the Vernalis
trade PR account, having already worked on rebranding its
marketing materials… been selected by London Biotechnology
Network as PR and marketing consultants for the Genesis
conference…been appointed by Microscience to
copywrite its technology factsheets…been hired by
BioTie to copywrite its corporate presentation for
BIO…been selected by Cobra Biomanufacturing
to provide trade PR in addition to providing design for
its marketing materials…been confirmed as PR advisors
to Prolysis to raise its profile around its Series
B financing...
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| Client
round-up
Since
March Northbank has…completed an update of the KuDOS
CD Rom in time for ASCO…completed copywriting of the
Oxagen business plan in support of its Series D financing…achieved
coverage of the acquisition of Ultrafine by Sigma-Aldrich
in the Financial Times, Dow Jones, Chemical Market Reporter,
Chemical Week, Chemistry & Industry and European Chemical
News…designed a recruitment advertising campaign for
HepCgen…implemented email alerts and on-line
promotions for Sigma-Aldrich’s Proteomics Alliance
European Seminar Tour…completed a new Syngenta biopharma
brochure…organised a press dinner at HUGO on behalf
of Affymetrix…completed a redesign of the DNA
Research Innovations website…to give just a snapshot
of our activities… |
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Meet
us at
In the
months ahead members of the Northbank team are planning to
attend the following events. Just click on the attendee if
you would like to fix up a meeting with us. Please visit our
website
for updated information on events we will be attending throughout
the year. |
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