Ashfield Health, part of UDG Healthcare, has launched two new global agencies – Mind+Matter and Ashfield MedComms – as part of a major rebrand of its businesses.

Newborn Mind+Matter is a global creative communications agency formed through the merging of Cambridge BioMarketing, Ashfield Digital and Creative and Pegasus.

The agency’s work will span the health spectrum, from consumer wellness through to established pharma and rare and novel therapies, under the direction of former resident of Cambridge BioMarketing, Ben Beckley.

Ashfield MedComms houses 700 creatives, scientists, strategists and client partners to form one of the largest scientific and medical communications agencies in the world.
Its work will focus on new medicines for diseases where no treatment existed, to paradigm-shifting advances, to precision medicines, real-world evidence and patient-relevant outcomes, to technologies and diagnostics.

The team will be led by Ashfield Health presidents Richard Lawrence (International) and Matt Jacobson (North America), reporting into Amar Urhekar, who joins as global president of the Ashfield Health network.

The Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) and the Medical Journalists’ Association (MJA) have published a new guide outlining best practice when approaching health journalists with a media story.

The guide, which is based on research by the Medical Journalists’ Association and feedback from members, aims to assist those working in healthcare PR to understand how best to approach journalists with a media story.

“The HCA regularly invites health journalists to speak to our members. It is frightening to hear the consistency in how journalists want to be approached and then the degree to which this is just not happening appropriately,” said Mike Dixon, chief executive of the HCA. “At best this puts a journalist off working with the particular individual or their organisation, at worst it taints their view of the whole healthcare communications profession, lessening their enthusiasm to engage with us at all.”

Healthcare communications consultancy Helios Medical Communications has partnered with mid-market private equity firm NorthEdge to help fund its next growth phase.

Based in Cheshire, Helios works with global pharma clients to deliver solutions across a range of services including medical writing, advisory boards, training and symposia.

NorthEdge’s investment will support Helios’ future growth plans, which include the expansion of its existing locations in Cheshire and Oxfordshire with the launch of a new central Manchester office in early 2021.
“This investment reflects a number of wider trends we are seeing in the healthcare communications and consulting sector,” said Tom Cowap, director at Alantra, which advised Helios on the deal. “The services provided by Helios are highly sought after and we continue to see strong interest from strategic competitors and private equity investors in businesses like Helios.”