King Pharmaceuticals taps Ruder Finn for pain brands
BRISTOL, TN: King Pharmaceuticals hired Ruder Finn to support the pharmaceutical company's portfolio of anti-pain brands.
The scope of work includes brand and corporate communications, said Steve Andrzejewski, chief commercial officer for King Pharmaceuticals. The company has several anti-pain brands on the market, as well as several in late stage development.
“It's more specifically around pain and our pain brands,” he said. “But certainly the larger story about King, since pain is such a big component of it, will also come into play.”
King Pharmaceuticals acquired Alpharma Pharmaceuticals in late 2008, expanding the company's pain portfolio to include Kadian, a drug which treats chronic pain, and Flector, patch used to relieve pain from strains, sprains, and bruises. It is based in Bristol, TN.
An RFP was issued in early November and three firms, including Ruder Finn, pitched in the final round. Andrzejewski declined to say whether Spectrum, the incumbent firm, was invited to pitch or had pitched the account.
Calls to Spectrum were not immediately returned.
The account is led out of Ruder Finn's healthcare practice in New York, said Susan Goldstein, MD of the global healthcare practice for the firm. She noted that other practices and offices will provide support on the account, as needed.
Budget was not provided.
