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Read our latest marketing tips and scientific industry news

What we offer as a scientific marketing agency – New Video

In our new video our MD, Seema Sharma, talks about our specialist scientific marketing agency. We focus on our services, team and the sectors we cover. In addition, we include some recent global examples of life science marketing projects. For example research instrumentation campaign launches, digital marketing for life science reagents, and SEO for scientific publishing.

We are a full service scientific marketing agency

If you are looking for marketing strategy, brand & design, digital marketing, copywriting, or PR in a scientific field, please contact the team. We’d be happy to provide advice and let you know more about what we do: info@onyva-agency.com

Adapting our life science marketing during Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes in the way we all work, as well as the drastic health consequences we have been unfortunate to experience or witness. In this short video, our MD, Dr. Seema Sharma describes some business challenges that have presented to us as an agency focussed on the scientific field, and how we have adapted our life science marketing services.

IWD2021. Women Scientists. Nobel Laureates

IWD2021: Women who changed science

In celebration of this year’s international women’s day, we’ve taken a look at some of the women who have changed science over the last century.

IWD2021

Women who’ve changed science

Marie Curie: Physicist


Year: 1903, 1911: Double Nobel Laureate for Physics, and Chemistry

  • Crucial study in spontaneous radiation (Physics)
  • Investigation in radium and polonium (Chemistry)
  • “We must have perseverance, and above all confidence in ourselves”
    Marie Curie

    Joan Clarke: Mathematician, Cryptanalyst


    Year: 1941

  • Joint codebreaker of the ‘The Enigma Machine’ used by the Nazis to transmit messages in WW2
  • Admiral Grace Hopper: Computer scientist, Naval Officer


    Years: 1941, 1952

  • Developed COBOL, one of the world’s first high-level programming languages
  • Invented the first compiler, to translate programming code to machine language
  • Received US awards- the Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous), National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

    Rosalind Franklin: Crystallographer


    Year: 1952

  • Discovered and photographed the helical structure of DNA (Photo 51)

    Rita Levi-Montalcini: Neuroembryologist


    Year: 1986 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or medicine

  • Discovery of nerve growth factor
  • Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard: Geneticist


    Year: 1995
    Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

  • Genetic control of embryonic development
  • Linda B. Buck: Neurobiologist


    Year: 2004 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

  • Discovery of odorant receptors and advances in the olfactory system
  • Elizabeth H. Blackburn: Cell Biologist


    Year: 2009 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

  • Co-discovery of telomerase
  • May-Britt Moser: Neuroscientist


    Year: 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

  • Discovery of grid cells in brain for positioning and navigation
  • Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier: Protein Biochemists


    Year: 2020
    Nobel Laureates in Chemistry (joint)

  • Development of the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing tools
  • For further female pioneers – take a look at our infographic “Pioneering women in science.”

    Global Covid-19 Vaccines overview update

    Global Covid-19 Vaccine Summary and Infographic: Phase 3 Trials

    Covid-19 Vaccines: Global landscape of Phase 3 Trials

    Our vaccine infographic highlights the key Covid-19 vaccines in full or early use, globally. Links to the original reference, where the Phase 3 trial has been published and referenced are shown below.

    Sign up to get a free PDF version of our covid-19 vaccine summary infographic


    PDF icon

    Peer Review: Phase 3 vaccine trials

    Type: mRNA

    Company: Pfizer and BioNTech – US/DE
    Name: Comirnaty, BNT162b2 (Pfizer vaccine)
    Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, et al. Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(27):2603-2615. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

    Company: Moderna and NIH, US
    Name: mRNA-1273
    Baden LR, El Sahly HM, Essink B, et al. Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(5):403-416. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2035389

    Type: Adenovirus vector

    Company: Gamaleya, RU
    Name: Sputnik V
    Logunov DY, Dolzhikova IV, Shcheblyakov DV, et al. Safety and efficacy of an rAd26 and rAd5 vector-based heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccine: an interim analysis of a randomised controlled phase 3 trial in Russia [published online ahead of print, 2021 Feb 2]. Lancet. 2021;S0140-6736(21)00234-8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00234-8

    Company: Oxford university (Vaccitech) and Astra Zeneca, UK/SE
    Name: AZD1222
    Voysey M, Clemens SAC, Madhi SA, et al. Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK [published correction appears in Lancet. 2021 Jan 9;397(10269):98]. Lancet. 2021;397(10269):99-111. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32661-1
    For further information, our in-depth post on the results of the AZD1222 vaccine trial, covers more detail.

    Peer review awaited: Phase 3 vaccine trials

    The following vaccines are awaiting peer-review, so alternative sources for efficacy figures, some of which are press releases of interim analysis from the manufacturer, are shown.

    Type: Adenovirus vector

    Company: Johnson & Johnson, US
    Name: Ad26.COV2.S
    Company press release: Johnson & Johnson Announces Single-Shot Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Met Primary Endpoints in Interim Analysis of its Phase 3 ENSEMBLE Trial

    Company: CanSino Biologics and Academy of Military Medical Sciences, CN
    Name: Ad5-nCoV, Convidecia
    Company press release: NMPA Accepts the Application for Conditional Marketing Authorization of CanSinoBIO’s COVID-19 Vaccine, Convidecia TM

    Type: Protein subunit (spike protein)

    Company: Novavax, US
    Name: NVX-CoV2373
    Company Press Release: Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial

    Type: Inactivated whole virus

    Company: Bharat Biotech, IN
    Name: Covaxin, BBV152
    Company press release: COVAXIN® – India’s First Indigenous COVID-19 Vaccine

    Company: Sinopharm, CN
    Name: BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm CNBG’s Covid-19 vaccine
    Company press release: China grants conditional market approval for Sinopharm CNBG’s COVID-19 Vaccine

    Company: Sinovac, CN
    Name: CoronaVac
    Company press release: Sinovac Announces Phase III Results of Its COVID-19 Vaccine

    * Sputnik V consists of two adenovirus vector constituents (rAd5 and rAd26),
    ** This figure varies dependent on the source and trials in Brazil (50%), UAE (86%) and from the manufacturer (79%) state differing efficacies.

    Publisher: About Us – Onyva The Agency
    We are a scientific marketing agency. We have continued to support clients through the current pandemic, producing technical literature, articles and digital marketing support relating specifically to COVID-19 for the medical, healthcare and biotechnology industries. Our scientifically trained team are able to combine up-to-date knowledge on the evolving pandemic, with decades of marketing experience to meet you needs.Take a look at our services.

    Get in touch for marketing support: info@onyva-agency.com

    COVID-19 Adenovirus Vaccine Image

    COVID-19 Oxford Vaccine Trial Results: Summary

    AZD1222, a COVID-19 vaccine that has just undergone phase 3 trials, was co-developed by the spin-out company, Vaccitech, based at the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on an attenuated (weakened) version of a common cold adenovirus. The latter has been modified to include the DNA sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein. As a result, this surface spike protein is produced in the recipients body post-vaccination. It is the most antigenic part of COVID-19, eliciting an antibody response, and priming the immune system to counteract future infections.

     

    Overview of COVID-19 Vaccine Trial (Phase 3) Results:

    Vaccine Name: AZD1222

    Developers: Astra Zeneca + VacciTech (Oxford University) UK

    Vaccine details: Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector (attenuated) + Sars-Cov2 spike protein DNA

    Approach: Two dosing regimens (inadvertent – see below for explanation)

    statistical significance: p-value <=0.0001

    Dose – Day 1 Dose – Day 28 Number of test subjects Efficacy
    Half dose Full dose n=2471 90%
    Full dose Full dose n=8895 62%

    Figures released to the press [1] included a composite average efficacy of 70%. In reality there were effectively two trials, due to the difference in doses. The half dose was actually given in error initially, to 2.7K+ test volunteers. This subgroup who received an erroneous administration, actually produced the most pronounced efficacy (90%). Speculative theories around this suggest, the lower dose may stimulate T cell production of antibodies more effectively. Alternatively, the patients who received the higher dose on day 1 may have experienced a more pronounced reaction to components of the viral vector itself. Thus, the response to the second dose was blunted (62%).
    Clearly, more research is needed to establish the cause. Additional data on the age and ethnicity breakdown of the individuals included in the higher efficacy subgroup would also be necessary to ensure the trial group was representative of the population at large and no biases were present. For example, an absence of individuals who were 65+, or from ethnic minority groups in the higher efficacy group, has a potential to skew results.
    The researchers stated no severe cases of COVID-19 or hospitalisations were recorded in any patients, where the vaccine proved ineffective.

    Note that whilst phase 1/2 trials of the vaccine have been published with peer-review [2], we still await the full results and data of the phase 3 trial.
    The Oxford University and AstraZeneca team have also made a commitment to broad and equitable global access to the vaccine. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-06-05-oxford-university-s-covid-19-vaccine-next-steps-towards-broad-and-equitable-global

    Pros & Cons of Adenovirus Vaccines Vs RNA vaccines

    Pros

  • Established and large scale production techniques available
  • Thermostable, at normal cold storage temperatures 2-8oC
  • Cons

  • Time-consuming production
  • Prospect of annual boosters required
  • Update 30th December 2020:
    The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the emergency supply of COVID-19 Vaccine (AZD1222) for the immunisation of individuals 18 years+. This authorisation recommended the two full dose regimens be given – due to a lack of data for the half dose/ full dose regimen at present. They have recommended that the two identical doses be given with a 4 to 12 week interval.

    Publisher: About Us – Onyva The Agency
    We are a scientific marketing agency. We have continued to support clients through the current pandemic, producing technical literature, articles and digital marketing support relating specifically to COVID-19 for the medical, healthcare and biotechnology industries. Our scientifically trained team are able to combine up-to-date knowledge on the evolving pandemic, with decades of marketing experience to meet you needs.Take a look at our services.
    Get in touch for marketing support: info@onyva-agency.com

    References:

    1. AstraZeneca Press Release: 23 Nov 2020 https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2020/azd1222hlr

    2. Folegatti PM, Ewer Kj et al., Oxford COVID Vaccine Trial Group. Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary report of a phase 1/2, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2020 Aug 15;396(10249):467-478. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31604-4. Epub 2020 Jul 20. Erratum in: Lancet. 2020 Aug 15;396(10249):466. PMID: 32702298; PMCID: PMC7445431.



    5 years anniversary Onyva The Agency

    5 years anniversary

    We’re celebrating 5 years since our launch this month! Onyva the Agency, founded by our MD Seema Sharma, officially launched in September 2015. We have been providing marketing services to the scientific sector for half a decade! During that time we’ve partnered with diverse clients in scientific publishing, biotechnology, medical diagnostics, research instrumentation and cancer charity sectors, to name a few.

    ‘We’re very proud to have reached this milestone, and provide our marketing expertise combined with our scientific and industry-specific knowledge to our growing client base. The recent challenges faced globally with the Covid-19 pandemic, have meant that we’ve had to work more closely to support the health, medical and life sciences sector in rapidly emerging situations with tight deadlines. We’re looking forward to the next 5 years, and expanding our Public Relations and bespoke marketing software offering.’

    Dr. Seema Sharma. Founder and MD, Onyva the Agency.

    For further information contact the team on info@onyva-agency.com

    Continued marketing support_Onyva_Covid19

    Continued marketing support

    During the recent challenges, we would like to assure existing and new clients that we will continue to support them with all marketing projects.

    We are fortunate to be able to work remotely, and have all the infrastructure in place for our team. We are keeping abreast of,and adhering to all of the government advice issued on Covid-19.

    We are infinitely grateful to all those working in the medical and healthcare sector who are at the frontline of keeping everyone well, and don’t have the option of working from home.

    Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries you may have directly, and stay well.

    Life science marketing short survey CTA

    Survey poll: Marketing support for the life sciences sector

    Over the next few weeks, we seek to get your input on the marketing resources and support, that could help you with your business goals in 2020! If you’re a life science company, or work in a related scientific sector, it would be great if you could fill out our short poll.

    It’s embedded below and should only take a minute or two – we promise! We greatly value your opinion – and in the future this will help us deliver the best free content and marketing consultancy services.

    What’s more, there’s an optional opportunity to provide your email for entry into a prize draw for office goodies at the end of the survey. *Extended* We will select and announce the winner on Mar 31st 2020.

    Marketing support for the life sciences sector

    Interested in getting more marketing tips for the life sciences sector? Take a look at our recent article ‘Toolkit for life sciences marketing: Strategy, email & SEO.’

    Toolkit for life sciences marketing: Strategy, email & SEO

    In this summary article, we’ve collated insights and tips into key marketing tactics, if you’re working in the scientific sector. These include the fundamentals needed for a life science marketing plan, email marketing advice for the scientific sector, and an SEO checklist.

    Life science marketing article link

    Life sciences marketing plan: Fundamentals and Infographic

    This article, includes a useful infographic and covers the key background work you need to do, before you formulate an effective life sciences marketing strategy. These fundamentals, that cover customer personas, product, targets, form a core basis for both inbound and outbound marketing tactics.
    Email marketing article

    Email marketing for the Scientific Sector

    In this post, we cover prerequisites for getting your email marketing up and running optimally. We consider relevant content ideas for the life sciences, biotech, medical and related sectors — with tactics on how to grow and establish your subscriber list. We summarise the key email platform providers and provide insights on layout. In addition we cover approaches to lead nurturing and cadence.
    Navigating SEO article link

    Navigating SEO: Tips and infographic

    Navigating SEO in a B2B scientific product marketing setting is business critical, but comes with its own unique challenges. In this post, we provide key pointers on starting your SEO plan. This is complemented with an infographic SEO checklist into tactics and resources, to ensure you’ve got the key things covered.

    In summary

    Doing your groundwork is essential to provide direction and a solid foundation for your overarching marketing plan. It’s important to take time to choose your platform, consider subscribers, plan content and optimise layouts for effective email marketing. Similarly, SEO for the scientific sector often sees you competing for similar technical terms, so optimising iteratively, is essential to get ahead.As your first quarter progresses, you may need to modify to account for changes. This could be due to market factors, a new offering from a competitor, for example, or sales underperformance.
    Adaptability is a key skill for life science marketing success.

    If you need life science marketing consultancy Email us today!
    Happy New Year from Onyva The Agency

    2020: Happy New Year & Decade!

    Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! As we start a new decade, we look forward to some new and exciting scientific marketing challenges and trends. 🙂 We’d like to thank all of our friends and colleagues for their support last year. Also, our special appreciation goes to our clients who helped us keep busy. Bring on 2020!