Schering-Plough in talks on $400m global marketing job

The company is looking at putting the advertising and marketing work for all of its products, which include over-the-counter and prescription medications along with Dr Scholl's footcare products and the Coppertone tanning range, into one of the global ad groups.

Several of the holding companies reported to be in talks with Schering-Plough already handle some of the company's brands. Clarityn, which is called Claritin in the US, is handled by WPP's Ogilvy & Mather. Euro RSCG, part of Havas, works on Coppertone and Dr Scholl's, while Omnicom Group's BBDO Worldwide has the account for Nasonex nasal spray.

Publicis Groupe has none of the company's work at present, but Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan has worked with Saatchi & Saatchi in the past, when he was head of the agency's client Pharmacia.

The company is headquartered in New Jersey and employs 30,500 people globally. Other brands include: Clarinex, another allergy treatment; Remicade, which is used to treat arthritis; and Zetia, for people with high cholesterol.

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This article was first published on brandrepublic.com