Edelman wins AZ oncology porfolio

The PR agency won the business against short-listed agency Cohn & Wolfe. Industry sources suggest the account could be worth up to £500,000. Edelman has previously worked on rival pharma firm Pfizer's oncology business.

The win follows AstraZeneca's decision to consolidate its oncology portfolio within one agency. The company had been using Axon Communications, Porter Novelli, Virgo Health PR and Cohn & Wolfe for individual cancer products. The latest additions to its cancer product range are Faslodex and Iressa.

AstraZeneca's head of communications, global marketing, Louise Fairburn said: "We have a number of PR directors working on the portfolio, and over time we have had a number of PR agencies, which didn't make sense."

She added: "We have a strong brand focus but not for the portfolio as a whole. This is an attempt to build a really strong global alliance in communications."

Edelman European health practice chair, Carolyn Paul, will head up the account. Fairburn will be the main point of contact for the agency.

Virgo will continue to handle the global support for Faslodex and Arimidex until quarter two next year when the accounts will be transferred to Edelman.