NEW YORK, July 22, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Accel Healthcare Communications LLC, a top 20 healthcare advertising and medical communications firm based in New York City, has doubled in size since 2001. With their recent new business wins, the agency is now poised for another period of aggressive growth.
Due to the successful implementation of its corporate development plan, Accel has become a magnet for industry talent, more than doubling the number of their employees to 105. They have also experienced rapid revenue growth, more than doubling annual billings to a projected $19 million in 2003.
Accel was recently listed No. 20 in the closely watched annual MedAdNews ranking of agencies. To ensure that this growth is accompanied by strong internal measures and systems to keep client service the number one priority, Accel has invested in a division head to oversee the operations of the company and create "smart" processes and procedures.
"It's been an amazing couple of years, to be quite honest," says Accel Chairman Risa Bernstein. "I'm proud to say that we did what we set out to do -- namely build an agency that delivers excellence to our clients every day, and have fun doing it. So we're proud of the last few years as well as excited about the future of Accel!"
Accel's new account wins include:
-- Andryx: Accel is working on branding, promotional messages, e-
design, and integrated programs for Altocor, a statin indicated
for cholesterol lowering and primary prevention of cardiovascular
disease. Accel is also creating a unique cost savings program for
cash paying customers called the SAVE Program,
-- Baxter: Accel is repositioning Transderm Scop for the hospital
market, handling full service brand development and marketing
activities,
-- Genentech: Accel is working on Rituxan for rheumatoid arthritis,
with branded pre-launch messaging and promotional programs to
condition the market for product acceptance,
-- Millennium: Accel is launching the breakthrough new oncology agent
Velcade, the FDA approval of which received extensive media
coverage, including in The Wall Street Journal and The New York
Times. Accel developed pre-launch messaging, launch positioning,
brand development and an integrated program to patients, nurses,
pharmacists and MDs,
-- Schering: For Claritin OTC, Accel has developed a managed care
program targeted to MD's and patients to maximize use of care.
Additional Information on Accel
Accel is an Omnicom company and an integral part of the global TBWA/Worldhealth network. Its clients have branded Accel as "The Energy Agency," having experienced firsthand its passion for the business and high level of client service. As part of their ongoing efforts to be thought leaders in its field and provide their clients with the best thinking on a given pitch or program, Accel is constantly reading, researching, writing and speaking out on the issues crucial to the industry.
Accel's creative talents have been widely recognized by the industry, winning numerous awards, such as:
-- Agency on the Rise: 2001, MedAdNews
-- In-Awe Award: Gold trophy for Metadate CD Sales Training Program,
2002
-- Rx Club: Award of Excellence, 2001/2002
-- Highest Scoring Ad in Modern Healthcare, Advance for Information
Executives (McKesson IT)
-- Fostik Ad Effectiveness Award (McKesson)
-- Best Agency Ad: PharmaVoice
Some of Accel's medical education accounts include:
-- Wyeth's Protonix and Altace,
-- GSK's Coreg,
-- Johnson & Johnson's Procrit,
-- A new osteoporosis drug from Roche/GSK,
-- Elidel by Novartis (the number one agent for eczema, a non-
steroidal), and
-- Pain products by Endo.
Most recently, Accel studied the issue of the changing (and threatened effectiveness) of pharmaceutical sales forces. The study has been developed into an article entitled "What Doctor's Want," which appeared in Pharmaceutical Executive magazine's May 2003 Successful Sales Management supplement. The Accel Report is available in its entirety online at www.accelhealth.com. Additional Accel Reports on crucial, timely topics are currently in the works.
Note to Editors: for a photograph of the Accel partners, please click on this hyperlink http://www.accelhealth.com/partners.htm.
For additional information on Accel Healthcare Communications Inc. please contact Risa Bernstein, Chairwoman, at 646-602-6904 or Risa_Bernstein@accel_health.com, or Charlene Prounis, President, Accel Advertising, at 646-602-6904 or Charlene_Prounis@accelhealth.com.