The agency clung on to the brief following a three-way shoot-out against Hanover Communications and Insight Public Affairs. The three agencies were selected from a shortlist of six.
The Swiss-owned pharmaceutical company put the account out to pitch last month (PRWeek, 5 October), one year after Political Intelligence was brought in.
Novartis called the pitch as it plans to market a record number of medicines in the New Year. ‘We are launching more medicines on the NHS over the next 12 to 18 months than any other pharmaceutical company,’ Novartis director of comms Jason Browning previously said.
Speaking this week, he said: ‘I am confident that Political Intelligence is the public affairs agency best placed to assist us in this very busy period.’
Political Intelligence MD Nicholas Lansman said: ‘Healthcare public affairs is highly competitive. Our healthcare practice has expanded significantly over the past two years, not only in Westminster, but also in offices in Brussels, Madrid and Edinburgh.’
Political Intelligence’s existing healthcare client base includes stem cell storage facility Virgin Health Bank and pharmaceutical company Trinity Chiesi.
The agency bolstered its healthcare team earlier this year with the appointment of former government health adviser Julie Stone as consultant (PRWeek, 28 September).
