Columbia Laboratories, Inc. Selects Manning Selvage & Lee to Support Company’s Flagship Women’s Health Treatment

Columbia Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical company, has selected Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L) for public relations activities to support PROCHIEVE® 8%, a natural progesterone gel which has been safely used for more than nine years as part of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment for infertile women with progesterone deficiency. MS&L’s Boston office will lead the account.

Prochieve 8% is currently being studied for use to prevent preterm birth among women who are at high risk of preterm deliveries.  MS&L will initially provide PR support surrounding the publication of Phase III clinical trial data, as well as help the company educate professional and consumer audiences about the risks and treatments for preterm birth.

“Every day, one out of eight babies is born too soon in this country, putting the infant and mom at risk of a host of health complications,” says Robert S. Mills, president and chief executive officer for Columbia.  “We are dedicated to helping identify ways to reduce the number of preterm births in the U.S., and we believe that MS&L’s vast expertise in this area can help us communicate with the right audiences at the right time.”

MS&L’s women’s health team has more than a century of collective experience working with companies and organizations to educate women of all ages about issues and products that empower women to live healthy, active and productive lives. The agency also offers deep professional and advocacy communications experience and pediatric know-how.

“We’re delighted to be able to partner with Columbia to educate expectant parents about the risks of preterm birth and how they can work with their healthcare practitioner to help sustain a full-term pregnancy,” says Monique da Silva, director, North American Healthcare, Business Development at MS&L. “Many of us have had our own worries during pregnancy and it is satisfying to know that we are helping provide information to parents that can help sustain a pregnancy.”

MS&L Boston (www.mslworldwide.com/boston) provides complete strategic public relations, communications and marketing services for leading enterprises in New England and beyond.  For nearly a quarter century, MS&L Boston has been working behind the scenes to develop and execute innovative programs that help strengthen the visibility and reputation of its clients.  Blending the responsiveness of a boutique-sized office with seamless access to the global resources of the MS&L network, MS&L Boston delivers a one-two punch that generates a steady stream of fresh insights and opportunities to keep client programs moving forward.

About Columbia Laboratories
Columbia Laboratories, Inc. [CBRX] is a U.S.-based international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of reproductive healthcare and endocrinology products that use its novel bioadhesive drug delivery technology. Columbia markets PROCHIEVE® 8% (progesterone gel) for progesterone supplementation as part of an Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment for infertile women with progesterone deficiency and PROCHIEVE 4% (progesterone gel) for the treatment of secondary amenorrhea. The Company also markets STRIANT® (testosterone buccal system) for the treatment of hypogonadism in men. For more information, please visit www.columbialabs.com.

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L is one of the world's leading global public relations firms.  We achieve our mission - to be more important to our clients - by delivering world class media relations, acting as partners and advisors, powering clients' businesses with proven methods and tools for strategic planning, corporate and product branding, corporate reputation, crisis management, and stakeholder relations.  MS&L is the winner of the 2006 PRWeek PR Innovation of the Year and Best Use of the Internet awards.

MS&L is a member of Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: 13057, NYSE: PUB), whose activities span 109 countries on six continents and include advertising, media counsel and buying, marketing services and specialized communications.  For more information, visit www.publicisgroupe.com.

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