CV

Professional Experience

2013 - Present

Associate Creative Director/writer

Various agencies and pharmaceutical companies

As a freelance writer, I’ll help with anything that needs to be done, from annotating, referencing, anticipating med/legal/reg issues, interpreting, and transferring client comments, writing for digital and social media –– to synthesizing market research, identifying insights, translating insights into positioning, strategy, and storytelling, helping with new business and Client presentations. I’ve developed corporate branding and early-stage disease state campaigns. I’m fluent and comfortable with “high science” and have worked on numerous brand launches including for relapsing remitting MS, oncology (breast, lung, liver, and ovarian and others), ACS, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, gout, asthma, schizophrenia, depression, and suicide.

I've been asked back to all agencies I’ve worked with, and always remain Client facing, including with Marketing and MLR teams. I got to stay with one large agency from 2020 to 2023, and remained centrally involved on two major oncology brands and their launches.

In my freelance life, I’ve worked with talented agency teams and clients. Here are a select few :

Agencies:
Area 23, FCB, IPG network, Harrison + Star, Sudler&Hennessey, Flywheel, Rosetta, Jane Iredale SkinCare, CDMNY, AgencyRx, Brandzone, Interbrand, Cambridge BioMarketing, Glue, Bionest Partners, Grey NY/Canada; Lawrence + Co; Biolumina
Client/Brands:
Keytruda (Merck); Lenvima (Eisai); Emgality (Lilly); Gilenya (Novartis); Xiaflex (Endo); Omlonti (Santen); Elitek (Sanofi/Genzyme); Kisqali (Novartis); Sarclisa (Novartis); Contour (Bayer); Kerendia (Bayer); NeuroRX (same); Andexxa (AZ); Verzenio (Lilly); Firmagen (Ferring); Zevalin (Acrotech; Biopharma LLC); Mayzent (Novartis); Acthar (Mallincrodt); Envarsus (Veloxis); Xiidra (Bauch and Lomb); Kengreal (Tarsus); Radisse & Belotero (Merz); Bronchitol (Chiesi); Retevmo (Lilly); Verzenio (Lilly)

2003 – 2012

Creative Group Supervisor

Medicus, division of Publicis (now Publicis Health)

I was assigned the full portfolio of prelaunch-to-launch activities for Sanofi’s antiarrhythmic, Multaq. Over several years with the Multaq brand team, I developed strong, collegial relationships with both US and Global Client leads, and several KOLs. Clients expressed appreciation for my understanding of the brand’s objectives, the science driving the brand and everything that was required up to and through to final worldwide launch of Multaq for restoring sinus rhythm. Among many initiatives with Publicis, I helped create concepts and disease state materials for AbbVie’s 3 Humira indications (Someone recently suggested virtually everyone in the industry has worked on Humira. Still a great client and powerhouse of a brand…)

1995 – 2002

VP, Group Copy Supervisor

Lowe Bozell (Bozell Worldwide)

I lead the creative team on prelaunch-to-launch campaigns for XOLAIR, and Zyprexa. The XOLAIR Genentech/Novartis partnership was engaging for the science, and very different corporate cultures. On behalf of both clients, I spent lots of time in South San Francisco, and Basel diving in on everything all at once. My work on the atypical antipsychotic Zyprexa included a rapid immersion into the complexities of schizophrenia and bipolar disease that involved discussions with HCPs KOLs and patients. The final campaign was an award winner, and importantly, praised by HCPs and patients.

1989 – 1992

Copy Supervisor

Lavey Wolf Swift

I was given the opportunity to work on multiple brands and activities including successful business pitches, hospital beds, heart failure, HIV, and infertility therapies and company corporate branding.

1980 – 1989

Copy Writer/Copy Supervisor

Sudler & Hennessey

My entrée into the world of healthcare Agency life was with the incomparable Sudler & Hennessy. S&H gave me a first-in-class education from advertising luminaries in copy, art, and account. I got to help with all major US and Global pharma company initiatives –– from leukemia, anemia, and heart disease all the way to Crest toothpaste, Dove soap and everything in between.

January 1980 –
July 1980

Writer/Editor

Pfizer Laboratories

After grad school my first industry job was with Pfizer, where I had the opportunity to see this powerhouse pharmaceutical company up close. Among many learnings, I got solid grounding in med/reg/legal issues and Agency-Client operations. Best of all –– Pfizer was where I was introduced to and landed my first job as an Agency advertising copywriter.

Recognition

Numerous Rx, NY Festivals, and global competitive awards

Education

Boston University/Goddard College BA Literature; Middlebury College, MLitt program

Harvard/MIT programs in negotiation

Elyn Neilson

CV