PR and Med Ed news in brief

J&J linked with Olympic sponsorship deal

Speculation is mounting that Johnson & Johnson is set to become a top-tier sponsor of the Olympic Games. The US pharma company is expected to sign a £100m deal with the International Olympic Committee after the completion of the 2006 Winter Games in Turin next February. The deal would allow J&J to use the famous Olympic Rings trademark across all its products and have an exclusive presence at future Games up until at least the London Games in 2012.

Galliard wins GSK Avodart contract

Galliard Healthcare Communications has won the global PR contract for GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment Avodart. The London-based agency beat off competition from Edelman and Ketchum to replace Fleishman-Hillard, which declined to repitch for the account citing a conflict of interest. Galliard managing director Marika Freris will lead a four-strong team on the account, reporting to GSK's global scientific communications strategy team. GSK is currently investigating Avodart's use in the prevention of prostate cancer, a potentially lucrative market if it succeeds in clinical trials.