CLIENTS

CLIENTS

For nearly 25 years, JB Ashtin has partnered with clients to help them navigate through industry changes, government regulations, and advances in science and technology. At every step of an engagement, we earn our clients’ confidence to become their trusted advisor. We also work to make our client partners look great in the eyes of their organizations. We are grateful that more than 90% of our clients are repeat customers or come to us by client referrals. More often than not, we become fast friends and long-term partners. Together, we seek to better serve HCP and patient communities with impactful experiences.

Partnering with Clients Across a Range of Therapeutic Areas

We’ve developed deep expertise over the years by working with clients in a variety of treatment areas, including:

  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious disease
  • Inflammation
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Pain Management
  • Psychiatry
  • Rare disease
  • Respiratory
  • Urology
  • Vaccines
  • Wound healing
  • Women’s health

Supporting Clients in the Rare Disease Space

We help identify opinion leaders and therapy area experts and establish relationships with them to create education and awareness for new therapies in the rare disease space. Here are just some of the rare disease areas in which we’ve worked:

  • Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
  • Congenital athymia
  • Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
  • Hemophilia B
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Farber disease
  • Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
  • Friedreich’s ataxia
  • Growth hormone deficiency
  • Molybdenum cofactor deficiency Type A
  • Myotonic dystrophy
  • Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
  • Spinal muscular atrophy

A Few of Our Case Studies

Creating a Network of Influencers Who Treat an Ultra Rare Disease

RESULTS

This influencer database was a starting point for client-influencer discussions that helped create provider-patient support programs.

CHALLENGE

When pharmaceutical companies have innovative treatments for ultra rare diseases, it can be difficult to develop a network of stakeholders who have related expertise in the disease state. Where do you start to look? How do you determine where to focus early outreach? An emerging client had this exact challenge—and a limited initial budget to work with. They had only a handful of KOLs and weren’t sure how to expand their reach.

SOLUTION

Develop a state-by-state database of immunologists and specialists who treat rare disease.

JB Ashtin assembled a team to act as an extension of the client’s small internal team to identify potential expert newborn screening influencers in every state. We learned that each state’s immunologist was a key gatekeeper, instrumental in providing resources to families whose children had positive screening results. We established relationships with immunologists in each state, and learned how positive screens are managed in each, and which specialists most frequently oversaw the care for newborns with this rare disease. We updated the list regularly, as turnover is frequent among some key state influencers, and opened conversations to support the client’s clinical development plan and future HCP educational programs.

RESULTS

The video series went live recently on the client’s website. The client and the KOL participants are excited to learn of the program’s impact. The podcast series is in progress.

Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Deliver Disease State Education

RESULTS

This innovative VR experience helped HCPs step into the world of an untreated and undiagnosed adult with ADHD. It was made available to HCPs at 2 congresses. More than 600 HCPs participated at the live event. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which prompted the company to repurpose this activity for reps to share with physician practices.

CHALLENGE

A midsize pharmaceutical client was preparing to launch a product for adults with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The client learned that many psychiatrists believed that ADHD does not exist in adults because children with ADHD outgrow this disorder. The client needed to change this perception to avoid unneeded negative consequences for the brand.

SOLUTION

Develop a day-in-the-life scenario using virtual reality technology to increase awareness and understanding of adult ADHD.

JB Ashtin theorized that HCPs need to connect with the disorder on a subjective and emotional level before they could fully understand adult ADHD. JB Ashtin scripted an immersive experience (shot in 360 surround), for HCPs so they could experience for themselves some of the challenges adults with ADHD face daily. The virtual reality (VR) technology highlighted the impact ADHS had across all domains of activity (home, work, social). Users could experience each domain separately or as a full day. The innovative approach provided insight into recognizing and diagnosing adult ADHD.

RESULTS

This innovative VR experience helped HCPs step into the world of an untreated and undiagnosed adult with ADHD. It was made available to HCPs at 2 congresses. More than 600 HCPs participated at the live event. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which prompted the company to repurpose this activity for reps to share with physician practices.

Staying Top of Mind with HCPs Without New Data

RESULTS

The video series went live recently on the client’s website. The client and the KOL participants are excited to learn of the program’s impact. The podcast series is in progress.

CHALLENGE

No news was bad news for this small pharmaceutical client. It had been 2 years since they had offered HCPs new data about their therapy, and it would be another year before new data would become available. How could they continue to keep HCPs engaged and aware of their treatment option?

SOLUTION

Devise and produce a compelling video and podcast series that goes beyond the traditional channels of symposia, publications, and speaker bureaus.

Although a competitor had previously created digital content for this therapy area, it was scripted and lacked authenticity. We proposed a video and podcast series to showcase experienced KOLs having candid conversations about the disorder, potential treatments, and treatment challenges. We engaged client stakeholders to ensure that the content, while frank, would not present problems for their compliance, legal, and regulatory teams. After virtual rehearsals with KOL and client stakeholders, we recorded 4 videos in a Nashville studio. The video series is branded while the podcast series will include branded and unbranded episodes and will feature patients and physicians in lively discussions.

RESULTS

The video series went live recently on the client’s website. The client and the KOL participants are excited to learn of the program’s impact. The podcast series is in progress.

Accelerate Recruiting for an Ambitious Clinical Study With Strict Enrollment Criteria

RESULTS

Meeting participants demonstrated a high level of engagement throughout the meeting and provided glowing feedback for the conference. Armed with additional insight and a deeper commitment to the clinical trial, the coordinators delivered! The client met its recruitment goal faster than anticipated.

CHALLENGE

Recruiting qualified participants for any clinical trial can be difficult, but our client was facing an extreme challenge. This was one of the largest psychiatric clinical trials in history AND it had very strict enrollment criteria. To complicate matters, the trial also required transitioning to a new patient type. There was a real risk the client would not meet its enrollment goals. How could they motivate study coordinators to commit to trial enrollment?

SOLUTION

Design and present a conference to engage, educate, and connect study coordinators.

No principal investigators were invited to the conference—it was designed specifically with coordinators in mind. The conference underscored the significance of this trial to the field of psychiatry and highlighted the importance of each study coordinator in the trial’s success. We included a live interview with a patient with the condition along with content that focused on study updates and key metrics. We also provided opportunities for the coordinators to participate in panel discussions to share best practices and gave them the chance to connect with each other at an offsite dinner. We also announced that awards would be given to coordinators who met study goals.

RESULTS

Meeting participants demonstrated a high level of engagement throughout the meeting and provided glowing feedback for the conference. Armed with additional insight and a deeper commitment to the clinical trial, the coordinators delivered! The client met its recruitment goal faster than anticipated.

What our clients say

“OK, we crack jokes. It doesn’t feel like we’re talking to the agency. You feel like you build a rapport.”

            Senior Director, Global Scientific Engagement, Consumer Health Client