Medicus International rebrands as Discovery London
pharmafile | May 20, 2014 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Medicus International, Publicis Healthcare
Publicis Healthcare-owned medical communications group Medicus International has rebranded to Discovery London, thereby officially joining the Discovery worldwide brand.
Discovery London will assume the status of European hub to serve Discovery clients who require a global reach. Discovery is a high-science marketing and communication network that joined Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) – the largest healthcare communications network in the world in 2002.
Barbara Joly will be the general manager of the new unit and has almost a decade of experience within the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group working in Paris, France.
This move aligns Discovery London with a global network of more than 500 employees operating across 10 countries. Its clients include: Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Ipsen Group, Novartis, Pfizer, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.
The new partnership sees the unit’s expertise in international-level medical education programmes complement Discovery’s focus in market plan communications. Together, they will strengthen their offerings and bring forward Discovery London’s team within oncology and haematology.
Commenting on the rebrand Sam Welch, global group president of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, says: “The expansion of Discovery London is being successfully achieved by integrating its talent and reputation with sister agencies within the global Discovery brand.
Welch adds: “Barbara Joly will be driving investment in a broader range of client services, including insight generation, competitor intelligence, strategic consultancy and execution, market analysis and research. Within a communication plan, clients will also be offered digital educations, and speaker and media relations.”
On joining Discovery worldwide, Barbara Joly said: “We move from a niche offering to the pan-European arm of a global network with better access to multiple capabilities for our clients.
“The talent at Discovery London will be supported by our European sister agencies in France, Italy and Spain as specific client brand work requires. This is an exciting move as our reach now extends to clients based in India, China and Australia.”
Don Young, Group managing director of Discovery worldwide, adds: “The depth of expertise within the London agency can only strengthen our ability to deliver across continents for existing global clients. Discovery London’s oncology and haematology reputation in medical communications is a compelling attraction for clients.”
