Excellence in Managing Established Products

Summary of work

Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is a condition that affects up to 42.6% of people who have had a stroke. However, many patients face barriers to diagnosis and support. There are only a small number of global experts in PSS, and HCPs lack clarity on how to correctly assess for PSS and appropriately manage the condition.

In 2019, Allergan set out to address these issues by supporting the PSS community with education and training. Allergan developed a strategy to facilitate a cascade of knowledge from experts to treaters via its flagship Medical Education programme, the Allergan Medical Institute (AMI). A ‘Rising Stars’ programme was initiated to increase the number of global KOLs in this field and demonstrate an improvement in knowledge and clinical skills among treaters. The programme developed 21 new KOLs over a two-year period (an 84% increase).

A tiered educational journey designed to address the needs of treating physicians based on their experience and expertise was devised, which led to the implementation of numerous face-to-face and virtual training events. Finally, to increase awareness and understanding of the risks of PSS amongst stroke patients and caregivers, a ‘Spot the Signs’ campaign and screening tool were developed and launched in several international markets.

Judges' comments

The Allergan Medical Institute PSS Programme demonstrated good insights, and it was clear how the needs of the HCP audience were addressed. The programme clearly defined its goals with clear evidence of content differentiation.