Manning Selvage & Lee’s (MS&L) London office was selected by industry peers to win Launch of the Year at the Communiqué Awards sponsored by Pharmaceutical Marketing magazine. The Communiqué Awards are recognized as the premier awards for Healthcare Public Relations and Medical Education.

The honour was awarded to MS&L and its sister medical education agency Discovery London for their work on the launch of Acomplia (rimonabant), a drug from sanofi-aventis.

At the ceremony, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on July 12, the judges praised the team for “a great example of a fully integrated launch.”  The audience of more than 1,000 pharmaceutical industry and service professionals was also told the team had “clear, shared vision” and their campaign delivered on “clear and credible objectives.”

Discovery London Account Director Paul Hughes said: "The award is a true reflection and just reward for the magnificent effort and teamwork displayed. Everyone involved formed one brand team, with shared goals and vision, to produce a truly integrated and targeted campaign that delivered - and surpassed - its objectives."

MS&L London CEO Stuart Wilson said: “This was a perfect example of what can be accomplished when the client and agencies work together as a single team. We are proud to win this award. It recognises the great team effort that went into making the launch so successful; and shows how we strive for excellence in all we do.”

MS&L’s healthcare team works across a range of therapeutic areas including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infection control, men’s and women’s health, medical technologies and oncology.

MS&L London is a full service consultancy with more than 80 consultants who provide a broad range of public relations expertise for both domestic and international clients across key commercial sectors, such as IT & telecommunications; financial and professional services; consumer electronics; government & public sector; ethical & consumer healthcare; food, drink & nutrition; and beauty & wellbeing.

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L (mslworldwide.com) is one of the world's leading global public relations firms. Headquartered in New York, MS&L has 46 offices throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, as well as an extensive global affiliate network.  The agency meets the needs of global and local clients by providing best-in-class services in consumer marketing PR, healthcare PR, corporate communications and technology communications, as well as industry-leading work in digital communications.  MS&L won PRWeek's Best Use of Internet/New Media Award in both 2006 and 2007.

MS&L is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and NYSE: PUB), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 42,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe's activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com