Nationwide pharma PR results in top sales
Situation: Roche Pharmaceuticals, now based in South San Francisco, California, is a branch of the healthcare innovator Roche Group from Basel, Switzerland, and ranks among the largest pharmaceutical companies globally. The company's initial engagement in a public relations-focused launch in the United States occurred in 1999 when the pharmaceuticals division hired Hanser & Associates to manage the nationwide introduction of the newly FDA-approved prescription drug Xenical (orlistat), aimed at treating obesity. Subsequently, Roche entrusted Hanser & Associates with the launches of four additional FDA-approved prescription drugs: Fuzeon (HIV/AIDS), Pegasys (Hepatitis C), Tamiflu (Influenza), and Xeloda (Cancer).
Strategy & Tactics: Between 1999 and 2007, Hanser & Associates supported Roche with new product and corporate public relations initiatives, offering strategic advice and executing PR programs to enhance Roche's brand through local and regional media coverage, boost sales, and strengthen corporate reputation and relationships with employees and physicians. The firm also introduced Roche through events organized in 34 major cities across the U.S. Encouraged by Hanser & Associates, Roche engaged our partner offices in cities such as Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. for launching additional FDA-approved drugs in specific areas.
Results: Roche's initial PR-driven national launch yielded remarkable outcomes; our program generated over 4.5 billion media impressions in the U.S. within just a few months, significantly increasing demand for Xenical among patients and doctors. Each drug, including Xenical, Fuzeon, Pegasys, Tamiflu, and Xeloda, achieved the #1 sales position in its respective category in the United States.