Newsflash from Sweden: The father of IVF (in vitro fertilization) has won the Nobel Peace Prize for medicine.
As CNN reported, the Nobel Prize committee recognized Dr. Robert G. Edwards for developing the process that led to the birth of the first “test tube baby,” Louise Brown, in 1978.
Why do I care? Because less than 20 years later, Spectrum’s role in IVF communications began as we managed the successful media launch of the first recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) fertility treatment available in the U.S. Spectrum led marketing communications for the rFSH brand Follistim® for Organon for years, and later guided the media launch of the Follistim Pen® injectable.
I’m proud that we have played a significant role in helping to inform caregivers and families who would like to have children understand the options and the science of IVF that Dr. Edwards pioneered.
Today, our role in supporting couples who are having difficulty becoming pregnant extends into patient advocacy through programs for RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association. We support RESOLVE in its efforts to raise public awareness about a family-building option called embryo donation. Spectrum conducted a highly successful online campaign for RESOLVE in 2009 that raised awareness among the target audiences by an average of 10 percent. In 2010, we launched a unique awareness platform on the topic of embryo donation called “Destination: Family” that offers a clearinghouse of news/information for families considering donating embryos or building a family through embryo donation.
