McCann Health Managed Markets: 2023

McCann Health Managed Markets, an IPG Health company

3 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054 

973-917-6501 • mccannhealthmm.com

Quick Facts

Accounts

• Account wins: 7
• Active business clients: 11

Brands by 2022 sales

• Brand-product accounts held: 51
• $25 million or less: 51
• Products not yet approved/launched: 6

Services mix

• Access and reimbursement: 42%
• Market access: 40%
• Omnichannel: 18%

Client roster

• AstraZeneca
• Day One Biopharmaceuticals
• Exelixis
• Genentech
• Incyte
• Janssen
• Krystal Biotech
• Mirum Pharmaceuticals
• Novartis
• Novo Nordisk
• Sun Pharma

Winner

• Best Managed Markets Campaign

Ensuring coverage to help patients access the medicines they need has been the passionate driver behind McCann Health Managed Markets (MHMM) and its award-winning work,” agency leaders say. “Consistent with year-over-year successes, MHMM wrapped up 2022 with more than seven percent growth.”

“In this rapidly changing landscape, we’re pivoting with our clients and finding new ways to demonstrate value to drive access while putting patients at the center of what we do,” says Kim Wishnow-Per, president of MHMM, adding that a legacy of long-standing clients combined with new business wins demonstrates this commitment. 

“We’re still navigating uncertainties,” explains Greg Novello, executive VP, strategy. “The world changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. As new policies are passed and value-
based care models roll out, cost pressures are intensifying for every stakeholder – including patients.”

Recent accomplishments

In 2022, MHMM secured seven new business wins, further diversifying its client roster. The additional lines of business bolster a growing oncology portfolio, with work across solid tumor types and hematology oncology. 

“One of the more unique client partnerships focuses on site-of-care operations and strategy to support a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy,” managers say. “In addition, we were honored to receive Silver at the MM+M Awards in its first year presenting the Market Access Maven category.” 

While market access marketing work is oftentimes associated with value propositions and health economics outcomes research, an intensified focus on a patient-centered approach fueled more diverse initiatives, agency leaders say. “The recent pandemic shone a spotlight on disparities in health care and manufacturers across the board declared their commitment towards positive changes. MHMM developed a video series to educate providers about potential biases that may result in suboptimal outcomes across select cancer categories. These videos addressed disparities in health care in hopes to improve outcomes.”

MHMM penned several POVs and articles, including an article published in PM360 examining the path to access for specialty products. Posted in April 2022, “it highlights the shifting specialty product landscape, access trends, and key considerations for improving specialty drug coverage,” executives say. “We continued publishing POVs, with the most recent in November titled ‘The Looming Threat of Alternative Funding Models.’”

Structure and services

Managers describe MHMM as a full-service market access agency “powered by more than 100 diverse individuals, fully dedicated to managed markets work. We offer end-to-end solutions across all market access channels and communication platforms. Our ultimate goal is to deliver value and drive results – breaking down barriers so patients can get access to the medicines they need.”  

The MHMM proprietary managed markets consultant advisory panel provides real-world insights, experience, and advice for clients, executives say. “These seasoned P&T Committee members and population health decision makers are dedicated to MHMM clients. In 2022, we added three members to the panel, which represents both national and regional organizations and institutions across the United States.”

“Industry and market access insights are the foundation of our content development,” says Nancy Codoner, director of market access, head of copy. “We are putting pressure on maintaining our strategically sound storytelling in different ways to help our clients move from perceived transactional relationships to strong customer partnerships.” 

Whether working on a burden of disease campaign, value proposition communications, or patient support resources, leaders state that MHMM applies a proven strategic framework that ensures insights are transformed into an actionable engagement plan. 

And like other IPG Health agencies, when it comes to MHMM’s return-to-office approach, “we continue to lean into the IPG Health philosophy of flexibility, accountability and trust,” executives say. “Unlike other agencies and networks, we trust our employees to work with their teams to figure out what works best for themselves, their families, and their clients.”

Future plans

We are excited about 2023,” Wishnow-Per says. “As our client roster grows, we are also expanding our agency offerings.” MHMM has three new service offerings that executives claim are gaining traction in conversations – a comprehensive training platform, a geo-targeted “heat map,” and a market access patient journey framework. This year will mark the rollout and implementation of these offerings. 

With a full year under its belt as a unified network, parent IPG Health provides expertise in disciplines that MHMM and its clients can leverage, agency executives say. “MHMM continues to integrate and leverage the power of the network to support clients in targeted areas such as UX strategy, patient engagement, and social sciences.”  

According to the leadership team, the patient-centered approach to market access is expected to intensify as social determinants of health remain in the spotlight. “Key healthcare stakeholders are only beginning to understand the nuances and interdependencies between SDOH and health disparities, and how addressing both is imperative to achieving health equity,” executives say. “An oncology health equity initiative is currently under development within a client work stream, with expected rollout later this year.”

Last year, IPG Health formally announced EDI+You, a strategic evolution of the network’s  commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. “This network-wide strategy is designed to be actionable and ownable by every single one of us, and MHMM will continue its focus and enhance initiatives in this space so we can continue to learn from each other and bring our clients the best of all of us in everything we do.”

The MHMM leadership team says there is a lot to look forward to in the next year, energized by several dynamic initiatives and new clients. “A new client put it simply, ‘I didn’t know what a great agency was until I started working with MHMM. Their expertise, professionalism, and hard work have elevated our team and I look forward to the continued partnership,’” executives say.

Philanthropy/citizenship

MHMM leaders say they are proud of the agency’s long-standing partnership with the Interfaith Food Pantry and Resource Center in Morris Plains, N.J., “a charity of choice” for more than a decade, with efforts spearheaded by Leslie Donworth, group director of operations. Last year, the team assembled 300 Thanksgiving food bags for families in need.

America’s Grow-a-Row has also had MHMM support over the years. In August, members of the agency harvested more than 27,000 pounds of fresh produce, which provided approximately 108,000 servings of fresh vegetables for people in need.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, the MHMM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force kicked off its first volunteer day with Moms Helping Moms Foundation. Executives say this effort collected donations and supplies, including 500 diapers, 600 baby wipes, and nearly 90 articles of clothing to support mothers.