Abbott hands Luther Pendragon marketing brief for Humira

Luther Pendragon has won an external affairs brief with Abbott for the profitable anti-inflammatory therapy Humira.

The company has claimed a contract worth more than 300,000 pounds a year after seeing off competition from Just Health PR, Hanover and Weber Shandwick, which has represented the brand for the last six years, reports PRWeek.

Luther Pendragon will carry out public affairs and PR activities for the multipurpose drug, which is believed to be the top-selling medicine in the world at present, with global sales expected to exceed 6.2 billion pounds next year.

The biologic therapy is approved for a wide range of indications, with the European Commission ratifying the drug for use in the treatment of severe active paediatric Crohn's disease last week, while it is also effective against rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

Abbott joins Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in Luther Pendragon's portfolio of health sector clients.