THE SHORTLIST


Congratulations to all of our shortlisted entries, showcasing some excellent work from 2021. This shortlist has been put together following a series of panel judging sessions by teams of industry experts.

Campaign / Project Categories

Best pharmaceutical product launch (OTC)

Hello Hana - OTC Contraceptive Pill Launch

Brands2Life

Client: HRA Pharma

Access to contraception in the UK has been affected by budget cuts, fragmented services and reduced GP opening times, a situation that worsened during the pandemic. HRA Pharma tasked Brands2Life with launching Hana, the first contraceptive pill available OTC, making it a landmark moment in the history of women's health. We delivered...

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Best pharmaceutical product launch (non-OTC)

Launching Zolgensma® the first gene therapy for babies with SMA in the UK

Havas Life Medicom

Client: Novartis Gene Therapies

SMA whilst rare, is a devastating condition. Without treatment, most infants don't make their second birthday. Signs are difficult to recognise so early diagnosis and treatment is crucial. In March 2021, Zolgensma® was approved for use on the NHS in the UK, a potentially life- changing, single-dose gene therapy. Dubbed "the world's...

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Best healthcare/pharma crisis comms response

#DontMissYourVaccine

Lynn PR

There was a need to engage with young people (18-39 years old) to support south east London COVID-19 vaccination targets due in July 2021. Our Healthier South East London (OHSEL) ICS/ NHS South East London (SEL CCG), commissioned Lynn PR to launch a targeted, integrated data-driven campaign to drive behaviour change amongst young pe...

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COVID ZERO

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Campaign targeting 12k + staff and local community designed to protect lives, workforce capacity and our ability to continue to provide healthcare services. The campaign resulted in the lowest levels of hospital transmission in the UK, despite serving a community that had one of the highest rates of community infection.

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Best public health awareness campaign

FAST Heroes

Twelve, CTL Communications and Lucan TV

Stroke is one of the biggest reasons that children lose their grandparents to disability or death. And, research shows that families often don't know how to respond when stroke is suspected, which was limiting the effectiveness of treatments. Enter FAST Heroes, a ground-breaking health awareness campaign that embraces the power of ...

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New Normal, Same Cancer

GCI and Engine MHP

The world may have been adapting to a new normal due to COVID-19, but cancer remains a global challenge. Our New Normal, Same Cancer (NNSC) campaign partnered with >140 patient organisations to raise awareness amongst policymakers, HCPs, patient advocacy groups (PAGs) and the public to encourage people with cancer to resume treatmen...

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Period

Cow

Millions of people across the world face period-related shame, embarrassment, social inequality, even trauma. To help our client Intimina tackle this and promote period positivity worldwide we turned to colour - with an innovative partnership between Intimina and Pantone. The result was Period: a new red Pantone shade emblematic of ...

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Smear Word

Mind+Matter

Never before have wit, self-deprecating humour and cringeworthy moments of hilarity been used to encourage cervical screenings. What's more, it's rare for a company like Roche to talk in such an explicit, unfiltered voice to an external audience. The Smear Word is truly one of a kind. One in four 25-29-year-olds were missing their c...

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Time To Unite

Virgo Health

With the arrival of Coronavirus causing a decline in breast self-check and breast cancer referrals, Estee Lauder Companies wanted to use their iconic Breast Cancer Campaign to reprioritize breast cancer self check public awareness during the Pandemic. There was also a perception issue around breast cancer not being portrayed authe...

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Best use of content in a healthcare/pharma campaign

#DontMissYourVaccine

Lynn PR

There was a need to engage with young people (18-39 years old) to support south east London COVID-19 vaccination targets due in July 2021. Our Healthier South East London (OHSEL) ICS/ NHS South East London (SEL CCG), commissioned Lynn PR to launch a targeted, integrated data-driven campaign to drive behaviour change amongst young pe...

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Ipsen Liver Cancer Awareness Month Campaign 2021 - The Organ Family: A Fork in the Road

Real Chemistry

Building on the Liver Cancer Awareness Month 2020 campaign developed alongside the European Liver Patients Association, Ipsen has launched the next chapter of 'The Organ Family'. This multi-channel campaign saw the story evolve, leveraging the already established characters, to highlight the importance of noticing risk factors and a...

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Period

Cow

Millions of people across the world face period-related shame, embarrassment, social inequality, even trauma. To help our client Intimina tackle this and promote period positivity worldwide we turned to colour - with an innovative partnership between Intimina and Pantone. The result was Period: a new red Pantone shade emblematic of ...

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Smear Word

Mind+Matter

Never before have wit, self-deprecating humour and cringeworthy moments of hilarity been used to encourage cervical screenings. What's more, it's rare for a company like Roche to talk in such an explicit, unfiltered voice to an external audience. The Smear Word is truly one of a kind. One in four 25-29-year-olds were missing their c...

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Vaccine facts

ZPB Associates

Health leaders in NHS South East London commissioned ZPB Associates to create a campaign to address the low trust and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine amongst the Black African and Black Caribbean communities in the area.

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Wear a Bloody Mask' - a public service message to encourage mask use

Ready10

Tech innovators Wise Protec developed a new fabric during the pandemic which destroyed 99.5% of COVID-19 on contact. We had to communicate the product's unique 'anti-viral' capabilities. At that time, the UK was one of the slowest European markets to adopt mask use. To capture attention, we created 'Wear A Bloody Mask': a piece of ...

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Best use of media relations in a healthcare/pharma campaign

Cholesterol Uncovered

Mind+Matter

Coronary heart disease remains one of the biggest causes of death in the UK. Despite this, awareness of cholesterol remains low. Even though it affects four out of ten adults in the UK, high cholesterol is largely misunderstood, with one in five adults believing exercise is enough to prevent it. While the country was completely con...

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Period

Cow

Millions of people across the world face period-related shame, embarrassment, social inequality, even trauma. To help our client Intimina tackle this and promote period positivity worldwide we turned to colour - with an innovative partnership between Intimina and Pantone. The result was Period: a new red Pantone shade emblematic of ...

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The Health Foundation's COVID-19 impact inquiry

Grayling

Grayling's wide-ranging media relations campaign for the Health Foundation's COVID-19 impact inquiry raised the charity's profile immensely, helping influence the government's levelling up agenda. Our work ensured UK health inequalities were highlighted to a range of key audiences, not only those served by mainstream outlets, leadin...

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The RECOVERY Trial: the world's largest study of COVID-19 treatments

Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford

The Oxford Population Health Communications Team responded to an urgent public health crisis, delivering extensive media coverage that helped to recruit patients into what has become the world's largest trial of COVID-19 treatments - the RECOVERY trial. Working closely with the trial team, journalists and partner organisations, they...

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Best use of social media and/or influencers in a healthcare/pharma campaign

Because We All Care

Grayling, Care Quality Commission & Healthwatch England

When non-urgent NHS treatment was paused or moved online in the initial stages of the pandemic, it became crucial for CQC and Healthwatch England to understand the challenges care users faced. To achieve this, Because We All Care set out to increase the volume of health and social care feedback received. The resulting digital-first ...

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Haliborange #ItsAllNormal

Aduro Communications

Parents are constantly told what they 'should' be doing. We want to outlaw judgement and banish the word 'should' for good. Because it's all normal. Building on the success of our 2020 #LunchboxWins campaign, we continued to challenge family representation in media. Our #ItsAllNormal campaign drove more authentic conversations about...

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Rosacea: Beyond the visible

Havas Life Medicom

Dermatologists nor patients could predict COVID-19's impact on rosacea. As the leading independent dermatology company, Galderma set out to uncover the impact of essential mask wearing on rosacea. Patient survey findings revealed almost two thirds experienced worsening symptoms, 1 in 2 used mask wearing to hide their rosacea, and on...

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Valuing Vaccines

ABPI

As the trade association representing pharmaceutical companies, there had never been a more important time to tell the story of how vaccines have changed our lives. Valuing Vaccines supported vaccine confidence and demonstrated the work pharmaceutical industry does to develop and deliver new vaccines, that have saved billions of liv...

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Best use of public affairs in a healthcare/pharma campaign

#CatchUpWithCancer and Radiotherapy4Life

Tendo Consulting

The CatchUpWithCancer campaign achieved huge media, political and public support for cancer patients during the pandemic. Helping a small charity, Action Radiotherapy, punch way above their weight, the campaign led the national debate on the COVID induced cancer backlog. Working with the charity, patients and 100 cross-party MPs we ...

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Promoting venous thromboembolism awareness at the WHO amid the COVID-19 pandemic

APCO Worldwide

ISTH appointed APCO to increase awareness of blood clots as a patient safety issue at the WHO and to establish a standardized approach to blood clot prevention. APCO helped ISTH to form a coalition of NGOs and UN member states to publish expert clinical guidance on blood clot prevention and the treatment of COVID-19 related blood cl...

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Individual Categories

Best healthcare/pharma comms professional (agency)

Amanda Mulally

Evoke KYNE

A dedicated and nurturing leader in so many respects; from being an active leader within Evoke KYNE's 45-person Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group, to helping design and implement EK Discovers, the company's global professional development programme, to being a trusted partner and confidant to her clients. Amanda leads with ...

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Leigh Greenwood

Evergreen PR

In the last 12 months, Leigh has led Evergreen PR to significant success, winning an enviable client list and numerous industry awards. Leigh has also earned CIPR Chartered Status and been named PRCA Professional of the Year for the North East and Yorkshire.

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Healthcare/pharma comms newcomer of the year

Adam Alexander, Healthcare/Pharma Comms Newcomer of The Year

Syneos Health Communications

Adam is a Graduate at Syneos Health, and is passionate about supporting patient communities.

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Emma Pascoe-Watson

Syneos Health

Starting in April, Emma got stuck in with account work, supporting clients day- to-day. She works across 5 accounts, leading on content development and digital strategy, providing support to clients in the digital and traditional PR space. She manages 4 of her accounts, leading client calls, managing timelines and budgets, writing...

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Erin Archer

Hanover Comms

Erin’s ability to take control of a project and produce excellent results for clients is remarkable for someone with just under two years in healthcare communications. This strong work ethic resulted in her receiving two promotions in the space of a year – a direct reflection of her ambition and passion for clients, patients, and the t...

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Grant Alison

90TEN

90TEN is proud to nominate Grant Alison for PR Week's Healthcare/pharma comms newcomer of the year. It is rare that you come across someone so early in their career who has such determination and focus. Grant has followed his passion for championing the needs of others to help fight disease, improve lives and reduce health inequalit...

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Rose Porter

WE Communications

Rose is an ambitious and passionate person, who cares about the work she leads on and delivers to clients. She approaches everything she does with dedication, proactivity and intellect, remaining laser focused on positive outcomes. Rose proactively seeks opportunities to further her professional development and push herself outside...

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Team / Agency Categories

Best healthcare/pharma comms agency

Arc Bio Communications

Arc Bio Communications is the innovation communications consultancy. We bring scientific, commercial and communications counsel to develop effective solutions through two firmly held beliefs. The first of these is that creating a company culture of shared ambition, inclusion and support is the best way to achieve our goal of doing b...

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Evoke KYNE: advancing health and wellbeing around the world

Evoke KYNE

During a year like no other, we're proud to have played a role in harnessing the power of communication to create lasting impact. By co-founding Pandemic Action Network and other advocacy initiatives, we partnered to take on the biggest health challenges of our time. We responded to the social unrest for many facing systemic discrimina...

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Fusing behavioural science and creative communications to create campaigns that deliver tangible results

Lynn PR

Lynn PR is a multi-award winning behavioural science communications agency. In 18 months, we have established ourselves as a leading behavioural science communications agency for healthcare clients across the UK. In September 2021, a week ahead of our 2nd birthday and shy of 6 months into the financial year, Lynn PR turned over £1M.

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GCI Health

With an unrelenting focus on our people, GCI Health is on track to record another outstanding year in 2021. Not only did we maintain an incredibly strong team spirit through innovative internal support programmes, we also welcome 25 new faces between July - July. With a team of 56, we are on track to grow our business by 20%, making...

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Mind+Matter

Mind+Matter launched this year with a fresh, fearless vision of what healthcare communications could be. We close 2021 with £4m of new business, 60 new hires, months of investment in a new proprietary tech platform and one unique new proposition. All in the context of a pandemic navigated without a single redundancy, reduction in pa...

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Real Chemistry: Making the World A Healthier Place

Real Chemistry

This is the moment, 20 years in the making. An obsession to make the world a healthier place for all. Moving to improve outcomes by placing people, data, and technology at the center of the solution. Our collective calling to shape the future of health. Challenging the misplaced comfort we all have in, "the way things have always b...

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Reinventing Healthcare Communications

OVID Health

OVID Health does things differently, but with one goal - making an impact for patients. Our strapline is Reinventing Healthcare Communications and our approach uproots the traditional agency set up - everyone in our team works across disciplines. We integrate PR, public affairs and policy - there are no silos in our tactics. For us,...

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Virgo Health

In the year that saw us more isolated from our friends, family and work colleagues than ever before, Virgo's ethos 'Being Human' became our North Star. Our brilliant team supported each other and found so many creative ways to keep our culture and community as vibrant as ever in a virtual world. By living and breathing our values we...

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Best agency healthcare/pharma comms practice

Edelman UK Health

Edelman

Following a complete reboot in 2019, the leadership at Edelman's UK health practice has continued to evolve to provide support and security to the now over 50-strong account team working out of London and to reliably serve the demands of the healthcare industry in a time of global uncertainty. We committed to our key business goals ...

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Hanover Healthcare Communications

Hanover Comms

Driven by our Breakthrough mission to play an active role in evolving and improving healthcare, we want to tackle issues for patients and our industry and solve the problems of the future. Over the past year our success came from three things: our teams' agility and unwavering support for one another; our focus on our strategy despi...

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MHP Health

Engine MHP + Mischief

This was the year we evolved our offer, equipped ourselves to tackle the most pressing issues in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector and focused on the future. We launched our new media and creative functions and invested in our first patient voice panel to ensure our campaigns reflected the real, lived experiences of the pa...

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Re-defining the client/agency partnership

FleishmanHillard UK

The pandemic came at a time of renewed growth for FleishmanHillard's healthcare practice. With clients not only being personally challenged by the very environment in which they were working becoming ever more unpredictable and complex, a new way of working was needed. The idea of partnership required a whole new dimension: one that...

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WE Communications Best Agency Healthcare/Pharma Comms Practice

WE Communications

In 2021, WE identified an opportunity to differentiate our healthcare communications offering by launching Scientific Engagement practice with behaviour change at its heart. With this integrated approach, WE successfully brings to life our purpose - to move people to positive action. We create impactful campaigns and empower our te...

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