OPTIMIZERx, Sudler & Hennessey Partner to Offer Solution to Pharmaceutical Industry’s Number One Challenge: Keeping Patient on their Meds longer

 

New York City, NY, September 24, 2008

 

OPTIMIZERx Corp., and S&H Digital, the Interactive division of Sudler and Hennessey, a WPP healthcare communications agency, announced today their plans to enter into an exclusive relationship to create, market and manage customized patient adherence programs for leading prescription and healthcare brands through the launch of ADHERxE™.

 

ADHERxE™ provides a turn-key platform to build powerful compliance programs that allow brands to engage, monitor and support patients each month to help them maintain their therapy. In addition to providing access to educational support, ADHERxE™ programs allows patients to activate monthly co-pay coupons in exchange for entering a branded Relationship Marketing program.  An important component of the RM program is completion of a survey to determine the patient’s treatment status.

 

From there, patients are re-engaged through emails, follow-up reminders and other programs based on their survey results to help them better comply with their prescribed therapy.  The program and monthly offers are jointly designed, hosted and managed by OPTIMIZERx and S&H Digital.  Content and creative is developed and managed by S&H Digital, leveraging the agency’s expertise in online pharmaceutical marketing and regulatory compliance.  Promotion of the program is integrated within OPTIMIZERx.com and its vast affiliate network, while redemptions of monthly co-pay coupons are accessible in a network of over 60,000 pharmacies.

 

“Our partnership with Sudler & Hennessey  allows brands to have one place to go to create powerful and engaging support programs that truly help patients comply to their important chronic therapies,” stated David Harrell, CEO of OPTIMZERx Corp.

 

“This is an exciting opportunity that fulfils a big healthcare need of finding ways to increase patient compliance.  We are excited to partner on the launch of ADHERxE™,   and integrate our creative design services , and healthcare experience within this powerful platform.    We can now offer brands a unique way to engage and support patients each month and help improve patient outcomes” stated Robert Palmer, Managing Partner of S&H Digital.

About OPTIMIZERx Corporation:

OPTIMIZERx provides unique platforms to help patients better afford and comply to their medicines and healthcare products, while offering pharmaceutical and healthcare companies effective ways to expand patient awareness, access and adherence to their brands. The Company's web-based consumer information and patient support website, www.OPTIMIZERx.com, and its permanent subscriber base, continues to grow each month and is quickly becoming the preferred way to access branded prescription savings and support programs. Additionally, OPTIMIZERx has integrated and developed peripheral offerings and capabilities, most obviously the newly launched OFFERx™ offer management system and ADHERxE™ to allow more brands to participate in promoting a new trial or co-pay program, as well as sophisticated online behavioural re-targeting and database marketing. of brand-name pharmaceuticals, OTC medications, medical devices, and healthcare services.  For more information, please email info@optimizerx.com.

About S&H Digital:

S&H Digital is a full-service digital agency with capabilities in account management and creative services; strategy and research; Web development technology; search engine marketing and online media; email and database marketing; reporting and analytics; and staying ahead of the curve on emerging technologies.  Specializing in the health and wellness categories, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical marketing, S&H Digital has deep experience in Direct to Patient, Direct to Consumer, and professional online marketing.  As a member of the Sudler & Hennessey global network, S&H Digital ensures a tightly integrated strategic approach that supports the full spectrum of commercial interests of the brand.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Launches New Branding Process:  “Effective Energy”

 

New York City, NY, September 2, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey launches a unique three-part process to develop brand strategies, create a compelling differentiating promise, and accelerate a brand’s performance.

 

In line with its mission of helping clients find more inside their brand, Sudler & Hennessey is launching a unique three-part process called “Effective Energy”.  Based on the concept that every element in the market environment has energy, the process uncovers the highest energy ideas and uses them to power the brand. 

 

According to Co-CEOs Rob Rogers and Louisa Holland, “This unique process is like a generator of ideas and can be used in any stage of the product’s life-cycle. “Effective Energy” transforms the energy of the market into the energy of the brand.  Not all big ideas work, and not all tactics are effective.  This process is a unique way of analyzing the market, targeting the challenge, and efficiently determining exactly what needs to be done with the brand. We’re very proud and excited to be introducing this new process to our current and future clients. It can change the trajectory of the brand’s life.”

 

If you would like more information about this new concept, please contact:

 

Rob Rogers @ 212-614-4830, rob.rogers@sudler.com

Louisa Holland  @  212-614-3838, Louisa.holland@sudler.com

 

 

About Sudler & Hennessey

The S&H Group is a global healthcare marketing and communications organization with offices around the world.  The network includes two global communications agencies – Sudler & Hennessey, with U.S. headquarters in New York City, and Sentrix Global Health Communications, with U.S. headquarters in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.  S&H also has specialized divisions in medical education (IntraMed Educational Group, Precept Medical Communications,  and Current Medical Directions), as well as in market research and strategic planning, branding, publication strategies, sales training (HealthAnswers), and digital solutions (S&H Digital).   For more information, please visit www.sudler.com.

 

About Young & Rubicam Brands

Young & Rubicam Brands is a world leader in marketing communications — a global, collaborative network of preeminent companies in advertising, public relations, public affairs, brand identity and design, direct and database marketing, digital and interactive marketing, multicultural marketing and healthcare communications. The companies  include Y&R, the Bravo Group, Burson-Marsteller, Cohn & Wolfe, Landor, Wunderman, Sudler & Hennessey, and VML among others.

 

About WPP

WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) is one of the world’s leading providers of marketing communication services.  Collectively, WPP employs more than 110,000 people (including associates) in over 2,000 offices in 106 countries. For more information, please visit www.wpp.com.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Announces “The Art of Sudler” Exhibition

 

New York City, NY, August 12, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey announces “The Art of Sudler” Exhibition on September 4, 2008 featuring work from award-winning talented S&H employees.  The theme for the event is New York City.

 

Exceptional work from exceptional talent will be exhibited on September 4, 2008 at the Sudler & Hennessey worldwide headquarters in Manhattan from 4:00-8:00pm EST. Featured art media will include photography, sculpture, oils, water color, and dimensional art. Many of the artists are award-winning, have displayed in galleries and have appeared in many publications.

 

According to Rob Rogers and Louisa Holland, Co-CEO of The Americas, “It’s unfortunately a common view that creative from advertising agencies is completely distinct from other forms of art.  The “Art of Sudler” is our attempt to reconnect the dots between agency creative and art by spending an evening celebrating the amazing skills of our staff and the work they produce outside the agency environment.  This is part of a continuing program at S&H to improve our understanding of creativity in all its forms, and share it with our clients.”  

 

If you want to see more of the S&H talent, our band “Late Night Car Service” will be performing at 8:00pm just down the street at the Cutting Room.  .

 

 “The Art of Sudler” is limited to “Invitation Only”.  Anyone is welcome to hear the band – a great way to end an evening in NYC.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Appoints New Managing Director in Canada

 

New York City, NY, June 10, 2008

 

Colin Dickey has been appointed as the new Managing Director of S&H Canada.  Colin will have strategic oversight for both the S&H Marketforce Toronto and S&H Montreal offices.

 

“Since joining the Sudler & Hennessey team, Colin has demonstrated the leadership, initiative and creative energy to help clients move their brands forward in any challenge.  Colin is the type of leader that clients call when they have a need, and I’m pleased to have him part of our global team” stated Jed Beitler, CEO S&H worldwide.

 

Colin’s breadth of experience includes 15 years of Canadian pharmaceutical and agency experience.  Having responsibilities in a wide range of therapeutic areas and positions from sales to health economics, OTC drugs, devices and diagnostics, provides the basis for a broad understanding of client challenges to help them find the energy in their brands.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Appoints New Managing Director of Montreal Office

 

Toronto, Canada, July 9, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey announces new Montreal office Managing Director

 

Sudler & Hennessey is pleased to announce the appointment of Michel Dupuis as Managing Director of its Montreal office.  Michel’s responsibilities include strategic and leadership oversight for all medical direction, client services, promotional and strategic medical education.

 

Michel brings broad expertise having served as regional director of 9 major markets for the Latin America IMS Health office. Michel has developed and launched new services that served as models for other countries, and has successfully led account service teams to achieve high satisfaction measures with their clients.

 

According to Colin Dickey, Managing Director for Sudler & Hennessey Canada, “Michel has the leadership qualities, focused energy to help clients fully realize their brand’s potential.  With the expertise of the staff, knowledge across therapeutic areas, products, specialties, OTC, medical device and nutritionals, Marketforce has the strong foundation to help clients find more inside their brands.”

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Announces Expanded Presence in India

 

New York City, NY, July 1, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey is pleased to announce that in addition to the two offices already established in the cities of Mumbai and Bangalore, a third office  is now open in the city of Hyderabad.   This office was created to address the needs of a growing client base.  The Hyderabad office is under the management of Amit Peshawari.

 

According to Jed Beitler, President and CEO of Sudler & Hennessey Worldwide, “We are pleased to be able to meet the needs of our growing client base as our global network continues to expand its reach.  We have an established, talented, creative team who can help clients find more inside their brand.”

 

All three offices are under the strategic oversight of Asha Kapoor, President, Sudler & Hennessey.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Appoints Co-CEOs

 

New York City, NY, June 30, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey is pleased to announce the promotions of Rob Rogers and Louisa Holland to the newly created positions of Co-CEOs for the Americas.   Both will oversee the strategic direction for the company and provide the necessary creative business saavy and insight to meet the changing needs of both our clients and the healthcare industry.

 

“Our industry has experienced multiple changes and is in constant flux” stated Jed Beitler, CEO Worldwide Sudler & Hennessey.  “Rob brings the global expertise, creative edge, and inspirational leadership that a top healthcare communication agency requires in today’s environment.  Louisa’s leadership, business acumen, and strong brand experience across disciplines provides the depth of understanding necessary to guide the agency forward.  Together, the strength of both leaders will provide the foundation necessary for the breadth of what we do best – helping clients find more inside their brands.”

 

Mr. Roger’s most recent position was President, Asia Pacific, S&H, (2003-2006) where his responsibilities included the management of agency operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangalore and Mumbai. In 2006 he returned to the US to take up the position of Chief Creative Officer S&H, North America.

 

Louisa Holland’s most recent position was President of Sudler & Hennessey’s U.S. operations, with responsibility for 400+ employees in offices in New York, New Jersey, and San Francisco.  She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of healthcare marketing and communications, most of them within the S&H network. 

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Appoints New President of EMEA

 

New York City, NY, June 9, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey is pleased to announce the appointment of Crispin (Max) Maxwell-Jackson as President of its Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region.  His responsibilities include strategic operational oversight and leadership in managing and building towards Sudler & Hennessey’s global direction and goals.

 

A successful business leader, Mr. Jackson has been involved in the transformation and reorganization of a large number of companies, as well as building and organizing a leading multinational network of communication companies. Max most recently was responsible for managing most of the non-US offices of the Publicis Healthcare Group.  Beyond his extensive international management experience, Max brings an in-depth understanding of both the medical education and digital spaces. 

 

“We are truly excited to have a leader like Max on board,” stated Jed Beitler, CEO Worldwide Sudler & Hennessey.  “Max brings the global expertise, creative energy, organizational skills and mental muscle that builds strong teams and forward-thinking business acumen in our global endeavors.”

 

Mr. Jackson received both his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science Degrees in zoology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.  He received his Diploma in Company Direction from IOD, London.

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Appoints New Managing Director for San Francisco

 

New York City, NY, May 21, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey announces the appointment of Debbie Fletcher as Managing Director of IntraMed West, a division of Sudler & Hennessey located in San Francisco, California.  In her new role, Ms. Fletcher will have full operating responsibility for leading the West Coast division of Sudler & Hennessey.

 

Ms. Fletcher brings a strong track record of building brands and over 20 years of healthcare related experience in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices.  She will report to Louisa Holland, President of Sudler & Hennessey U.S.

 

“We are pleased to have Debbie return to the S & H network in this leadership role.   She will be instrumental in driving the West Coast integration of our global resources and strengthening our presence in an important geography,” said Ms. Holland, “She has an extensive background in infectious diseases, oncology and specialty product areas that are critical therapeutic categories for the future.  With her client-based focus, Debbie will lead with an appreciation for offering strategic solutions and help to advance our corporate mission of adding value to our clients.”

 

Ms. Fletcher joins Sudler & Hennessey from Telik, Inc. where she was Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations. Prior to Telik, Debbie joined Sudler & Hennessey as the inaugural Strategic Planner serving client needs for global product launches in the areas of HIV and Oncology.  Debbie grew her pharmaceutical and biotechnology career at Gilead Sciences, Inc.  and GlaxoWelcome (now GlaxoSmithKline) where she held positions of increasing responsibility in various roles.  In her last assignment at Gilead Sciences she was Director of U.S. Marketing and Sales Operations which included the launch and growth responsibility for all brands with annual revenue over $300 million.   

 

Ms. Fletcher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising from the University of Texas and a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University.

 

 

 

SENTRIX HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS PROMOTES TOM KEMPISTY TO MANAGING DIRECTOR

 

Berkeley Heights, NJ, May 20, 2008

 

Sentrix Health Communications, an S&H network company, has promoted Tom Kempisty to Executive Vice President, Managing Director. 

Sentrix is a full-service global health marketing and communications agency committed to moving brands and businesses forward with focused attention, strategic savvy, and industry expertise.  Sentrix offers a 360-degree approach to all client challenges, providing solutions for physician, patient and payer audiences.  Based in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Sentrix is a separate and distinct division of the Sudler & Hennessey (S&H) network.

According to Louisa Holland, President and COO of S&H, “With more than 15 years of industry experience, Tom has gained the respect of his clients and the S&H management team through his many contributions and his multi-faceted understanding of healthcare communications.  He is well-equipped to take on this responsibility and lead clients forward, utilizing his knowledge of professional and direct-to-patient marketing, disease-state management, research, and payer/customer strategies.”  An expert in direct-to-patient marketing, Kempisty is a highly sought-after speaker at industry events and is widely published on topics including maximizing multichannel marketing and integration and converting DTC strategies into measurable results.  Among his numerous industry “firsts,” Kempisty played a key role in the development and launch of educational marketing—a powerful combination of patient education and traditional direct-to-consumer advertising/direct-to-patient marketing designed to effect meaningful and long-term change in patient behavior. He also helped drive the development of some of the industry’s first and most successful disease-state management programs for Pfizer and Novo Nordisk. Kempisty was at the forefront working to create some of the first online, interactive CME offerings in the field.

 

Most recently, Kempisty turned his attention to developing innovative third-party payer strategies to help manufacturers navigate the complex marketing environment in managed care. His areas of focus cross multiple channels including commercial customers, state & federal governments, long-term care, trade sales & operations, and health economics & outcomes research.

 

For more information contact:

Sentrix Health Communications

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-2705
Phone: 908-673-1718
Fax: 908-673-1777

E-mail: Tom.Kempisty@sentrixhealth.com

 

 

 

Sudler & Hennessey Launches New Global Website

 

New York City, NY, May 8, 2008

 

Sudler & Hennessey proudly announces the launch of their new global website, www.sudler.com.  The website address is still the same, but the new website now provides information for every local office worldwide.  “Most companies just say they have a global network, but we have people located in every office to support the needs of every client, in every language in a consistent manner no matter what the location” stated Jed Beitler, CEO of S&H worldwide. 

 

Visit S&H at www.sudler.com to get familiar with a global network that can consistently help clients find more energy inside their brands.

 

 

 

Launch of Significantly Realigned Independent Medical Education Group

 

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ (Release Date April 14, 2008)

 

A novel, independent medical education organization was officially announced today, the result of a strategic merger of three continuing medical education (CME) companies located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The professional staff of the North Wales, Pennsylvania-based company of Acumentis, the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey company known as Emeritus Educational Sciences (Emeritus), and the New York City office of Imprint Science (Imprint) will continue to reside within their respective physical sites, but are now innovatively aligned according to their expertise within therapeutic “Centers of Excellence” under a new, independent corporate structure – now known as IME, LLC (IME).

 

In 2004, in commitment to the health care education community and in consideration of the evolving regulatory environment, Acumentis, Emeritus and Imprint were among the first independent medical education organizations in the industry to create physical firewalls between the CME and promotional medical education groups of their Sudler & Hennessey parent organization. Throughout 2007, with further dedication to the delivery of quality medical education, the Directors of Acumentis, Emeritus and Imprint partnered in the effort to examine and assess their staff’s therapeutic expertise, CME professional competencies, experience, processes and resources. This collaboration resulted in a decision to formally unify and reorganize the three companies into one independent enterprise. The transition is now complete.

 

Lisa Emusov, who was previously serving as Director of Emeritus, has been appointed Managing Director of IME, LLC.

 

“Those of us in the CME community have faced many challenges over the recent years, and we, as part of a network of medical education companies who are truly committed to quality and compliant medical education have been continuously proactive in implementing the right measures to ensure the independence, integrity, and purity of our educational practices, methods and initiatives. While each of the CME companies that are now part of IME had previously and successfully established themselves as physically separate, independently managed organizations apart from any promotional or commercial interest or influence, IME will continue in vigilance to explore, assess and employ whatever actions are needed to remain in compliance with ACCME and all regulatory agency guidelines,” stated Emusov.

 

Of additional and vital importance is the ability of a medical education provider to embrace and implement an approach that truly addresses the current and critical practice-based needs of physicians and all other health care professionals. This approach must also incorporate an understanding of the standards and competencies recently set forth by a number of national organizations including the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).

 

Emusov elaborated, “The health care environment is changing rapidly, triggering critical concerns regarding patient safety, as well as the cost and overall quality of patient care. As education providers, we must understand clinicians’ evolving needs at a much deeper level if we are to facilitate true performance and behavior change at the point of care. The old CME model of data download is in the past.  Information is not education.”

 

The experienced staff of IME, LLC will now address these issues collectively by continuing to incorporate an approach that includes emerging best evidence, adult learning principles, and instructional design to enhance learning and practical application of knowledge. They will continue to seek out, collaborate and partner with other CME stakeholders to develop initiatives that will truly facilitate “learning and change” at the point of care, with the ultimate goal of positively impacting patient outcomes.

 

IME, LLC is also committed to the continuous learning process and professional development of its staff, who are now strategically aligned according to their experience within therapeutic “Centers of Excellence.”  By focusing and building upon the therapeutic expertise, knowledge and educational experience of their professional staff, IME can effectively develop educational initiatives that incorporate a more in-depth understanding of specific barriers, needs and clinical issues, a deeper level of awareness of the healthcare professional learning environment; and a greater understanding of how to practically and effectually integrate quality improvement into all CME activities within a specific therapeutic area and across healthcare specialties.

 

The leadership of IME believes that this innovative, therapeutically focused organization demonstrates their continued commitment to educational excellence by exemplifying quality improvement, collaboration, partnership, and best practices – the very goals and direction of the health care community and the CME enterprise. The vision for the new company includes not only exhibiting quality improvement within their own organization but also utilizing their expertise to deliver educational initiatives that integrate quality improvement and CME in order to truly affect improvement in patient health outcomes at the clinical point of care. 

 

IME, LLC is proud of the excellent reputation their staff has established in the medical and health care community, which is based on the strong scientific acumen of their medical affairs group, their persistence in driving the standards of high quality education, the relationships they have developed with thought leaders, medical associations, and other CME stakeholder organizations as well as their logistical expertise and commitment to innovative program design.

 

About IME, LLC

IME, LLC partners with accredited institutions and providers who share the same dedication to excellence and maintain staunch policies and practices that ensure accordance with ACCME, OIG, PhRMA, AMA, and FDA guidelines. IME, LLC develops and implements scientifically rigorous, clinically relevant medical education through a wide array of traditional, as well as innovative, educational formats based on the needs and preferences of the learner audience. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.ime-edu.com