Crackdown triggers pharma's PR spend

<P>The Research and Development Pharmaceutical Association of China (RDPAC) has selected Powell Tate Weber Shandwick to run a positioning campaign as the Central Government widens a national crackdown on corruption and bribery.</P> <P>RDPAC is an industry body representing 38 foreign pharma companies from the US, Europe and Japan. "RDPAC has been working on programmes aimed at increasing the professionalism of the industry, which also includes codes of conduct and ethics," said John Russell, Weber Shandwick's China-based EVP for Asia-Pacific.</P> <P>According to Russell, Powell Tate Weber Shandwick, a joint consultancy consisting of healthcare and public affairs specialists, won the business after a pitch which included Ruder Finn, Ogilvy PR, APCO and Blue Focus.</P> <P>Russell said that while the consultancy was still working with RDPAC to determine the best way to position the association, the pitch was sparked by the Government's moves to reform the healthcare sector in China, which would have significant implications for pharma companies. He added that the brief includes a significant amount of Government outreach along with media relations.<BR></P>