Washington, D.C. – July 22, 2024 – JPA Health, an independent, full-service agency working exclusively in the health sector, announced the acquisition of London-based akt health, an award-winning communications agency recognized for its work in delivering excellence across public relations, medical education and patient engagement programs.
Key Takeaway
- JPA Health acquires London-based akt health, enhancing European market expertise.
- Combined agency now has nearly 150 employees worldwide, offering expanded services.
“We are delighted to welcome akt health into the growing network at JPA Health,” said Carrie Jones, CEO of JPA Health. “Its accomplished leadership team shares our core values and commitment to exceptional client service. While JPA Health has a strong track record supporting U.S. and global clients, we recognize the increasing importance of the European market to our clients’ businesses. akt’s deep understanding of these market complexities will be a valuable addition, enhancing our ability to deliver impactful healthcare solutions on a global scale.”
Founded in 2018 by Anna Radnavale, Katy Foy and Tim Cockroft, akt health offers a bespoke service to healthcare clients, motivated by a central mission to make the world a healthier place while improving and protecting lives. The team has received global recognition for their work across Diversity & Inclusion Communications, Healthcare PR, Digital and Multichannel Communications.
“At the heart of this integration are shared values and a belief that, together, we can create work that truly transforms lives,” said Tim Cockroft, Executive Director, akt health. “We are hugely excited to be welcomed into the JPA Health family and to bring a new depth of European and UK expertise to this growing team. JPA and akt are both deeply committed to excellence in client service and fostering an agency culture that values its people. Through this alliance, we look forward to offering enhanced capabilities, passion and unrivaled creativity to our clients.”
The acquisition of akt health is JPA’s third transaction following the recent additions of medical communications firm BioCentric, a medical communications agency based in greater Philadelphia and AI-driven strategic solutions consultancy, True North Solutions, based in Cambridge, Mass. Together, JPA Health offers clients an exceptional pool of talent, equipped to meet our current and future clients’ needs across the Life Sciences, Public Health, One Health, and Federal Government sectors.
The akt founders will join JPA Health as Executive Directors, and all akt health employees will become part of JPA Health. The combined agency now has nearly 150 employees worldwide with offices in the U.S. and Europe (UK, Switzerland), offering a synergistic suite of services that includes corporate communications, brand marketing, patient engagement, and scientific storytelling.
JPA Health
JPA Health is an award-winning independent, full-service agency established in 2007. With offices across the U.S. and Europe, the agency seamlessly brings together flexible solutions in public relations, commercial marketing, patient advocacy, and medical communications across the health sector. Leveraging tailored AI solutions, JPA Health crafts seamless, 360-degree omnichannel strategies to engage healthcare stakeholders effectively. As a women-owned and independent agency, we are passionate about helping people live healthier lives and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of healthcare communications. Discover more at www.jpa.com.
akt health – A JPA Health Company
Based in central London, akt health supports clients with UK and EU strategic healthcare communications. Working alongside life science clients, akt health looks to enable Better Health for All by igniting conversation, transforming practice and driving patient engagement. The agency has a particular passion for addressing areas of health inequities through its campaign work and in 2023 was named PR Week UK’s health and pharma agency of the year. Founded in 2018, akt health joined JPA Health in July 2024.
National Prevention Week: How JPA Health Breathed New Life into a Longstanding Campaign
National Prevention Week has been an important yet under-recognized observance for nearly 20 years. JPA Health helped the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) rebrand and roll out a unifying logo and messaging, better defining prevention and establishing a long-term, memorable brand to support substance misuse prevention.
The Impact
Potential
audience
reach of
240M+
2,400+
downloads
of toolkit
and materials
10 new
partner
organizations
engaged
The Challenge
National Prevention Week is a public education platform dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. While the prevention field has changed significantly since the launch of National Prevention Week in 2004, the brand was in need of a refresh to be more contemporary and relevant. JPA partnered with SAMHSA to reimagine National Prevention Week and develop a new identity to better serve the prevention community.
Our Approach
In partnership with SAMHSA, we reevaluated the goals of National Prevention Week and held conversations with key audiences to garner their input. From there, JPA created a brand identity and messages to better communicate core messaging around the observance, aligned with SAMHSA’s strategic priorities. The revitalized brand focused on National Prevention Week as a conduit for elevating the prevention community to improve lives.
The Solution
JPA Health launched a new National Prevention Week logo with an emphasis on the word “We” in “National prevention Week,” adding a new, galvanizing tagline, “A Celebration of Possibility.” By successfully conceptualizing National Prevention Week in an innovative way – and getting input from stakeholders in the community — we were able to create the first consistent tagline, a contemporary logo, and a new approach that better resonated with the prevention community.
HYFTOR: How JPA Health Launched the First Approved Medicine for a Rare Genetic Disorder
The Impact
74 HYFTOR®
new prescribers
in two months
201.5M
campaign
impressions
500K
potential
audience
reach
The Challenge
Facial angiofibroma was consistently deprioritized as a treatable condition, because of the overall complexity of TSC. Yet people living with facial angiofibroma experience significant impact from bullying, depression, and other emotional challenges.
Our Approach
We developed a memorable brand story that brought to life the product’s unique position in the market — and its benefits for patients, caregivers and HCPs. We gathered insights through market research with neurologists, dermatologists, patients, and caregivers.
The Solution
The “my VICTORY” campaign brought to life how HYFTOR® answers the unmet needs of patients and their loved ones.
“my VICTORY” represented life beyond TSC/FA and patients’ ability to continue a normal life in the face of this rare disease. It showcased a sense of freedom to contrast with the stress and limitation that we found hinders patients, caregivers and HCPs.
The campaign included a full stable of paid, earned and owned assets created to build awareness of HYFTOR®. All elements created in support of the launch of HYFTOR® included print and digital versions of assets for patients, caregivers, HCPs and sales teams at Nobelpharma America.
Related Work
AVIBELA: How JPA Health Launched a Global Online Hub for a Low-Cost IUD
JPA Health worked with Medicines360, a nonprofit pharmaceutical organization, to develop the global product website for AVIBELATM, a low-cost hormonal IUD contraceptive.
The Impact
1,623 users
and 2300+
page views
the first month
after launch
Resource
downloads
in multiple
languages
45% of users
came from key markets
in Kenya, Panama,
Nigeria,
and China
The Challenge
Women lack information about long-acting reversible contraceptives in low-income areas in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Our Approach
To close the IUD information gap, we developed a web portal tailored for and strategically marketed to reach women in these key markets. The portal was informed by research among patients in our key target markets and designed to meet their stated need for practical and solution-oriented information to close the access gap.
The Solution
In less than 6 weeks, JPA Health developed and launched Avibela.com. The site effectively explains IUDs, highlights AVIBELA product characteristics, describes how and where to get the product, and even offers training resources for HCPs. This website exceeded anticipated interest soon after launch and continues to drive demand as Medicines360 continues its work expanding global access.
Related Work
Getting Out of the Rough: How JPA Health Created a Celebrity Miniseries About Biomarker Testing
JPA Health created an unbranded patient education initiative with a leading biopharmaceutical company to drive conversations between patients and oncologists about lung cancer biomarker testing.
The Impact
337%
increase in
monthly medical
oncology patient
visits
301K
campaign
website
visitors
2.4M
video
completions
The Challenge
Up to 25% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer have an EGFR+ mutation, but most did not receive the necessary biomarker testing to open the door to targeted treatment options.
Our Approach
We created Getting Out of the Rough, a campaign to educate patients about the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing in lung cancer. The campaign tapped into the power of celebrity influence to drive conversations about biomarker testing in the doctor’s office.
The Solution
JPA Health created a six-episode miniseries housed on a dynamic campaign website, featuring professional golfer Jason Day. With Jason leading the charge, the campaign featured a star-studded lineup, including Julie Bowen and Bellamy Young, who contributed a unique perspective through their personal connections to lung cancer. The campaign launched with a supporting multi-channel campaign, generating awareness online via paid traffic ads across all channels, and messages amplified on celebrity platforms.
Related Work
SKYTROFA: How JPA Health Built a Branded Patient Ambassador Community
Facing uncertainty and stigma, parents of kids living with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) needed advice and role models for successfully managing the condition. JPA Health worked with Ascendis to identify and elevate powerful stories of parents whose children were using a newer treatment option known as SKYTROFA®.
The Impact
Identified
82
interested
SKYTROFA
parents
Trained 5
caregivers
and captured
content
Engaged in
20+
strategic
opportunities
The Challenge
Raising children is challenging in any circumstance, but especially so when that child is facing growth hormone deficiency. While parents of kids with GHD navigated the uncertainty of a complex diagnosis, they often felt stigmatized and had few public examples of other parents tackling the condition head-on.
Our Approach
We engaged parents whose children were using SKYTROFA with a compelling call to share their stories, hand-picking a short-list of potential ambassadors who directly addressed parents’ most pressing concerns. From beginning to end, the entire program was designed around the realities of the ambassadors’ busy lifestyles to ensure every interaction was a positive one.
The Solution
We created a comprehensive training program to equip the ambassadors to tell their stories confidently and compliantly. At the same time, we efficiently captured (in one sitting) an entire library of content to bring their stories to life across multiple potential channels. We then built a system to strategically activate our ambassadors to ensure every storytelling opportunity would have maximum reach and impact – while providing each ambassador a personalized experience to honor their stories and their time.
Related Work
JPA Health: Leaders in Data-Driven Creativity
We understand that relationships are built on trust and dependability, particularly when dealing with complex brand narratives. You deserve an agency partner with knowledge and experience to draw upon.
Every client at JPA benefits from a tailored teams of marketing specialists, perfectly synchronized to provide cohesive counsel (without fragmentation). As a modern AOR, we have experts in patient and HCP marketing to ensure your brand achieves its full potential.
We offer a range of specialized services certain to build value and advance business objectives. From research and brand strategy to the execution of integrated campaigns with a total market perspective, we collaborate with our clients to make a meaningful difference and achieve exceptional outcomes.
At JPA Health, we develop campaigns that resonate and perform. Here’s how we do it:
- Data-Driven Insights
Our approach to data-driven marketing goes beyond collecting customer data. We focus on understanding and leveraging this information to craft personalized campaigns that truly connect with your audiences. With cutting-edge tools, we analyze extensive data swiftly, but the real magic lies in our experts’ ability to unearth actionable insights. - Compelling Creative
We understand that most buying decisions are made subconsciously, influenced by numerous bits of information. Our team crafts creative content that engages the subconscious mind, influencing decisions effectively and intuitively. - Omnichannel Activation
At JPA Health, omnichannel activation involves a deep understanding of our audience’s needs and preferences. We deliver content that is not only timely but also highly relevant, using strategies that are data-driven and customer-centric for personalized experiences. - Performance Metrics
Our approach includes a robust measurement plan to continually assess the effectiveness of our strategies. This plan, crucial for ongoing improvement, involves analyzing various data points, including effective tactics for HPCs and patients. We consistently assess our metrics to achieve our growth goals and enhance efficiency.
Our Clients
- SAMHSA
- Nobelpharma
- Medicines360
- Top 10 Pharma Company
- Ascendis
Our Expertise
Patient Advocacy
Marketing & Advertising
Medical Communications
Public Relations
One Health
Public Health
Life Sciences
Federal Government
Featured Insights
We asked our practice leads from across the agency to share – in 23 words or less – what is something new in the healthcare PR and marketing landscape that they expect to see in 2023? Here is what they said:
- Samantha Cranko, Life Science Corporate Communications Lead: Impressive innovation in biotech and pharma goes hand in hand with pricing concerns – expect more focus on communicating treatment value for cost.
- Karen Goldstein, Public Health Practice Lead: I’m feeling optimistic there will be continued collective focus and action on social drivers of health to improve public health, particularly health equity.
- Kelly McNeil, Life Science Marketing Group Lead: Education and tools for APPs (advanced practice providers) will be paramount, as the need continues to go beyond the doctor in resource-strapped times.
Key Takeaway
– Tech shifts disrupt digital media
– Focus on mental health, biotech
– Emphasis on health equity, education
Related Case Studies
- Grace Wahlbrink, Digital Marketing Lead: Shakeups in tech are starting to destabilize the digital media landscape. Strategic flexibility will drive success for health companies on social in 2023.
- Christina Zurla, Federal Government Practice Lead: I foresee federal health agencies continuing to support (and fund) efforts that address and help normalize mental health and wellbeing.