Disease Awareness

Genentech education campaign urges flu sufferers to mind their manners

Matthew Arnold January 18, 2012

Genentech is sponsoring a flu education campaign featuring hereditary etiquette expert Anna Post offering advice to the flu-stricken on keeping the bug to themselves.

Pfizer effort urges lung cancer patients to get gene tests

Matthew Arnold November 22, 2011

Pfizer Oncology has recruited Desperate Housewives and West Wing star Kathryn Joosten to feature in a national education campaign titled Lung Cancer Profiles, which aims to reduce stigma and plug molecular testing of the disease as the company deepens its investment in genetically-targeted oncology therapies.

Prostate Czech gets behind a good cause

Marc Iskowitz September 28, 2011

He takes a very direct approach to the pursuit of prostate health. He's Branko the Prostate Czech, and he's been wielding his latex glove to raise awareness during September's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

WebMD tackles childhood obesity with new websites

Matthew Arnold August 17, 2011

WebMD is expanding its wellness and prevention offering with several children's fitness sites aimed at besting childhood obesity.

Takeda hits the race track with gout awareness effort

Matthew Arnold June 28, 2011

Uloric-maker Takeda and Men's Health Network recruited a pair of racing world rivals to hype a gout awareness campaign, dubbed "Gout Pit Stop."

Allman to headline Merck's Tune In to Hep C awareness effort

Matthew Arnold June 21, 2011

Merck is launching a chronic hepatitis C awareness campaign featuring rocker and hepatitis C sufferer Gregg Allman, whose Allman Brothers Band will headline a benefit concert on World Hepatitis Day on July 27, in New York.

Lilly refreshes patient ed portal, launching YouTube channel

Matthew Arnold June 15, 2011

Eli Lilly & Co. refreshed its Lilly for Better Health program with a multichannel platform and a YouTube channel.

Merck partners with Habitat for Humanity in asthma awareness effort

Matthew Arnold May 25, 2011

Merck is launching Build Smart, Breathe Easier, an asthma awareness campaign starring celebrity carpenter Carter Oosterhouse, who will build four homes with asthma-healthy features.

Novartis and Amazing Race host ride tandem for MS awareness

Matthew Arnold May 25, 2011

Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan will lead a Novartis-sponsored team of women pro cyclists on a 10-city bike tour to raise awareness of MS.

Arthritis drugmakers hone pitch to consumers

Marc Iskowitz May 18, 2011

Makers of arthritis biologic drugs, a $15-billion market, are refining their consumer pitch to focus on prevention and early diagnosis, not just symptoms.

Mobile mania: smartphone users dialing up health info; docs prefer Apple

Matthew Arnold May 04, 2011

A quarter of US smartphone users are looking up medical info on their devices, and three-quarters of US physicians own an Apple device, according to a pair of surveys.

Pfizer texting campaign plugs vaccinations

Matthew Arnold April 27, 2011

Pfizer is piloting a mobile education campaign promoting awareness of the value of childhood vaccinations through texting.

Dr. Quinn to front Boehringer European AFib awareness effort

Matthew Arnold March 23, 2011

Boehringer-Ingelheim has recruited actress Jane Seymour to serve as the face of a continental European atrial fibrillation and stroke awareness campaign.

Sanofi-Aventis builds out diabetes social media presence

Matthew Arnold February 16, 2011

Sanofi-Aventis US is expanding its social media footprint with a new "Discuss Diabetes" blog and a "WhyInsulin" YouTube channel.

To dial down DTC, let companies collaborate on ads, says ex-Merck exec

Matthew Arnold February 10, 2011

A former Merck exec says it's time to wind down the DTC arms race by letting companies with brands in competitive categories collaborate on disease awareness advertising.

Bayer unbranded effort aims to counter bad birth control info

Matthew Arnold June 30, 2010

Bayer wants women to come to the company for information on contraception instead of relying on coworkers, bloggers or the tube for advice.

J&J uses web video, teacher outreach in UK ADHD effort

Matthew Arnold June 16, 2010

J&J's Janssen-Cilag launched an animated patient education video aimed at showing viewers the world from the perspective of a child with ADHD and urging parents to see a doctor about behavioral problems.