AstraZeneca announces review of global oncology PR

AstraZeneca is seeking new PR partners as it seeks to devise a new media strategy for its oncology portfolio.

According to The Holmes Report, the pharmaceutical company is considering as many as four agencies for the assignment, which is worth approximately 500,000 pounds in fees. Currently, the portfolio is handled by Edelman, which secured the account four years ago.

The company is attempting to revitalise its oncology pipeline as part of plans implemented following the arrival of chief executive officer Pascal Soriot in 2012. Since then, AstraZeneca has agreed several key deals, including a new collaboration with the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

It is seeking to prioritise combination treatments and new immunotherapy options, both of which will become increasingly important in future. This will help the business to compete with the likes of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche and Merck Sharp and Dohme in this space.

During 2013, AstraZeneca achieved a revenue total of $25.71 million (15.4 million pounds). Its current drugs include agents such as Arimidex, Faslodex and Iressa.