REMTULLA PICKS UP DRUG ASSIGNMENTS
By Adnews Staff
Remtulla & Associates won four accounts in one last week. Allergan Inc., a pharmaceutical firm based in Markham, Ont., hired the Toronto agency to handle advertising for its ophthalmic, dermatological, neurological and managed care divisions. Remtulla came out on top in a competition with Jeffery Simbrow & Associates and LBJ, both of Toronto. Rubel & Schwab of Toronto was the incumbent on the opthalmic business; the other divisions are new accounts. Allergan will be launching dermatological products at an undisclosed date. The neurological division is marketing a drug called Botox, which treats the involuntary twitching of eye lids. The managed care division advises clients about drug plans and what drugs are paid for under provincial health car plans. The opthalmic division makes antibiotics for eye infections and glaucoma treatment products such Betgan. Remtulla is also preparing a print campaign, scheduled for next year, for Knoll Pharma's cardiovascular drug Rythmol. The agency may also add interactive media such as a CD-ROM and CD-I technology to the marketing push. Remtulla won this business in a competition with incumbent Diamond Strategic Advertising of Mississauga. "We were starved for new ideas," said Rythmol product manager John Quelch. This is the second piece of business Knoll has given to Remtulla in the past few months. In August the agency was hired to advertise the hypothyroidism drug Synthroid. Remtulla already had Knoll's cancer pain management drug Dilaudid.