Spectrum Science: 2023

,
Spectrum Science 2023

Spectrum Science

2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Second Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006  

202-955-6222 • spectrumscience.com

Quick Facts

Accounts

  • Account wins: 24
  • Active business clients: 87

Services mix

  • PR: 57%
  • Advertising: 20%
  • Clinical trial recruitment: 16%
  • Medical education: 4%
  • Patient advocacy: 4%

Winner 

  • Heart Award

Finalist

  • Best Agency Campaign

“Spectrum Science had a transformational 2022,” the agency’s leaders say. “Fueled by a streak of new business wins – with a 56 percent win percentage in 2022, up from 41 percent in 2021 – and recent acquisitions, 2022 saw explosive growth in every area that counts – clients, staffing, and revenue. In fact, Spectrum closed the year with nearly 63 percent revenue growth at $80 million.”  

Spectrum Science, Saying Gay in the USA

Winner | Heart Award
In response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, Spectrum decided to design a downloadable Pride activity book that included LGBTQ+ facts, information, and mental health resources. The book was shared through organic and paid social campaigns. In conjunction with the campaign, Spectrum pledged to donate $5 for every download to the American Library Association’s (ALA) Unite Against Book Bans initiative, which aims to preserve and protect free access to information.

Recent accomplishments

Last year, Spectrum Science acquired three agencies: SONIC Health, The Seismic Collaborative, and Aurora.

SONIC Health is a strategic agency that leaders say applies compelling storytelling principles to transform corporate and brand communications for healthcare companies. “The SONIC team joined Spectrum to create SONIC Story Lab, which serves as a bridge connecting insights and strategy to creative activations that ensure communications connect with audiences,” executives state.

The Seismic Collaborative is described as an independent health and lifescience agency that specializes in supporting early-stage health tech and biotech companies. “Bringing this team onboard provides a greater depth of expertise in health technology and establishes the Spectrum Seismic Collaborative, a new offering that expands the company’s capabilities and further cements Spectrum’s ability to deliver at all points of a company and product life cycle,” managers say.

Aurora is a UK-based strategic healthcare communications consultancy. “Spectrum and Aurora have partnered together for nearly 14 years through Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC) – the largest network of independent healthcare communications agencies, of which Spectrum is co-founder and chair,” agency leaders say.

Structure and services

Spectrum is the only full-service, fully integrated, science-driven, global marketing, communications and media agency under a single P&L – truly an agency like no other,” the leadership team declares. “Spectrum’s team members are experts in science who deliver across advertising, communications, brand experience through multichannel marketing, clinical trial recruitment, scientific strategy and medical communications to meet the needs of health and science clients, from preclinical development through loss of patent exclusivity.”   

Executives say to meet the demands of today’s marketplace and future industry needs, Spectrum continues to launch new offerings and expand on current ones. In 2022, Spectrum appointed its first chief scientific officer, Chetan Vijayvergiya, who leads its scientific strategy team. The agency also continues to grow its new med comms knowledge center to help clients “activate science in a peer-to-peer environment with services like data gap analysis, accelerating data credentialing and increasing science share of voice.”

Spectrum also launched its social impact knowledge center by bringing on Kay Brungs Laud, an experienced leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) communications. Additionally, Spectrum continues to build its CTR services offering patient insights, clinical study identity and messaging, study recruitment plans based on region and more – and launching its CTR Software, TrialBlazer. 

“TrialBlazer is a software designed to aid in the acceleration of clinical trial enrollment, through the capture, storage, and transfer of personal health information for people around the world,” executives say. “TrialBlazer offers a frictionless online experience for potential study participants, combining a seamless participant experience with a holistic view of recruitment performance enables optimization of recruitment, enrollment, and retention activities.”

Future plans

Earlier in 2023, Spectrum received a strategic investment from Knox Lane to support its expanding capabilities, executives say. Knox Lane is the majority owner of Spectrum, while CEO Jonathan Wilson sits on the board, and retains a large minority stake in the firm. 

“This partnership will support the continued expansion of Spectrum’s strategic communications capabilities, while also enabling the agency to build on its unique approach to clinical trial recruitment, broaden consultative capabilities for medical affairs clients, and drive enhanced tech enablement throughout the organization,” agency leaders say. 

Philanthropy/citizenship

Open to all employees, Spectrum’s CSR committee creates opportunities for Spectrumites to get more involved in their communities and make an impact with their work,” agency leaders say. Through this committee, Spectrum brings in external experts such as the National Partnership for Women and Families for educational sessions. Spectrum also partners with GoodToday, an online platform that sends employees a daily email with the ability to allocate a donation to one of two featured charities to advance relevant causes on behalf of Spectrum. Throughout the year, Spectrum will increase the donation to certain causes aligned to the agency and its employees. 

Spectrum’s latest philanthropic initiative rolled out during the 2022 holiday season. “After realizing there has been a 155 percent increase in demand for food and clothing and a 50 percent decrease in donations post-pandemic, Spectrum looked to transform season’s greetings into giving,” executives say. Spectrum developed the Give Card, a card that turns into a reusable donation bag. Bags are designed with a QR code that leads to a microsite which includes resources on how/what you can give, social media support and a donation center finder. The campaign also incorporated a charitable donation component that drove monetary donations to three charities and an employee volunteer opportunity with D.C.-based nonprofit, Bread for the City.

In 2021, Spectrum also rolled out its first DE&I plan, according to managers, adding that the agency has since produced vendor agreements to ensure it is utilizing diverse vendors; developed campaigns aimed to raise awareness around healthcare issues impacting underrepresented communities; increased diversity within its talent pool by 33 percent; initiated programs and protocols for diverse hiring; and continues to share its internal newsletter (Culture Corner) that highlights diverse talent and resources.

Spectrum Science 2023

(left to right) Michelle Gross, president; Dan Zaret, chief finance officer; Andrea Sessler, chief human resources officer; Michelle Strier, chief strategy officer; Jonathan Wilson, CEO; Tim Goddard, president, global health marketing and communications (GHMC); Rob Oquendo, chief innovation officer; Justin Rubin, chief creative officer