Case Study: Enhancing Medical Communications for a Medium-Sized US-Based Agency
Introduction
Quill Science LLC, a strategic consulting and medical communications firm, partnered with a medium-sized US-based medical marketing agency to address their growing need for scientific services. This collaboration focused on supporting the agency's strategy, account, and copy teams, alongside their clients, which included a clinical-stage oncology company and a global pharma client.
Challenge
The agency faced a significant increase in business volume, which strained their scientific resources. This was compounded by their client recently receiving an expanded indication from the FDA, necessitating intensive medical strategy involvement. The agency required comprehensive medical education deliverables, including input, review, and advisement. Quill Science was initially engaged to refine and update a pathology peer-to-peer deck.
Approach
Research and Analysis
Quill Science conducted an in-depth analysis of the scientific, medical, and commercial landscape related to the expanded indication. This included briefing the agency teams on the disease’s pathophysiology, mechanisms of action of current therapies and agents in development, and a commercial overview of the therapeutic landscape.
Strategic Execution
Quill Science briefed teams about the latest findings and recommended messaging adjustments, such as revised World Health Organization guidelines that impacted brand positioning and diagnostic workup.
Strategic Collaboration
The project began in August 2023 as an 8-week engagement but expanded into a 9-month ongoing partnership due to client satisfaction and increased business. Chris of Quill Science provided medical support and message development for key deliverables, including a follow-up peer-to-peer deck, symposium presentations, and differential diagnosis flashcards. Chris also provided strategic support for other accounts within the agency on an ad hoc basis.
Results
Successful Deliverables
The pathologist peer-to-peer deck was approved and well-received, leading to additional client requests for related projects and generating more business for the agency.
Innovative Messaging
The differential diagnosis flashcard facilitated experimentation with new messages, resulting in a significant update that addressed a crucial unmet need of high misdiagnosis rates. Enhanced messaging was weaved into new and updated deliverables, including HCP and patient treatment education slide decks,
Ongoing Insights
Quill Science continually monitored developments in the disease state and therapeutic landscape, providing timely updates to the agency team. As new publications entered the literature, Chris proposed message, claim, and brand updates to the team and client.
Agency Team Engagement
Chris was praised for going beyond data review, offering engaging analyses, and fostering creative brainstorming sessions with the agency's creative, strategy, and account teams.
Conclusion
Chris’ involvement enhanced the agency's capabilities by providing expert scientific and strategic support, resulting in client satisfaction, effective agency utilization of staff across an increasing number of accounts, and enabling business growth. This case study exemplifies Chris’ and Quill Science's commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful medical communications and strategic consulting services to agencies to support their account teams.