Almac Wins News Flow of the Year Category at the Genesis 2010 Awards

CRAIGAVON, Northern Ireland, December 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

- Accolade Recognises Strong Communication of Almac's Integrated Services and US Expansion Programmes

The Almac Group, one of the world's leading contract drug development and manufacturing organisations, was presented with the "News Flow of the Year" accolade at the 2010 Genesis Awards annual Gala dinner in London last week, following the company being shortlisted as a finalist in the category nominations. Now into its tenth year, Genesis is established as a leading life science networking conference.

Recognised by the Genesis Awards panel as an "ambassador for the UK life sciences sector", Almac's 2010 news flow has increased exponentially compared to previous years. Messaging and announcements have been tailored to developments within the Group's areas of expertise, which extend from research, through development to commercialisation. Over 35 new stories have already been released this year with well over 400 items of coverage secured in target trade media world-wide.

The award comes hot on the heels of a string of accolades won by Almac this year, including winning the excellence in 'Innovation' category at Northern Ireland's tenth annual Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in recognition of the Group's discovery and validation of new pioneering biomarkers in the field of personalised medicine. Moreover, Almac was rated Great Place to Work(R), complete with a top five company 'excellence in disability' rating, by the Great Place to Work(R) Institute UK'.

De Facto Communications, the leading life science and healthcare communications agency, implemented a news flow communications strategy for the organisation that focused on aligning Almac's internal proposition with external perceptions across the wider market and industry. Furthermore, the Group's US expansion has been extensively covered in announcements and secured media exposure. This approach has enabled Almac to showcase its wider integrated offerings to a more diverse range of audiences, highlighting the Company's size, history and corporate strengths.

Tristan Jervis, Associate Director at De Facto Communications, commented: "To achieve these communications goals, a series of messaging meetings were arranged within the Group at the start of 2010. Targeted media lists and multiple expertise marketing communications plans were created, together with a Group-wide communications plan, specifically designed to capture central corporate messages. This innovative approach has enabled the company to produce a constant stream of highly targeted coverage, whilst enabling Almac to more closely mirror its internal structure externally."

Philip Diamond, Vice President of Corporate Market Development at the Almac Group, commented: "We are very pleased to have won this prestigious accolade and for the recognition that it affords. Indeed, we have significantly increased the volume of news flow released to the media this year and thanks to the quality of these announcements, we have significantly expanded our profile in the life science and pharmaceuticals sectors whilst enhancing target audience awareness of our integrated service offering and the expansion of our US operations."

Alan Armstrong, CEO of the Almac Group, commented: "In addition to an extensive and regular flow of business related press releases, we have also focused announcements on CSR programmes, especially our regional support initiatives. Highlights have included a focus on Almac's history, roots and committed support for the local Northern Ireland economy; exemplified by our late founder, Sir Allen McClay, being honoured with Craigavon's "Young Business Person of the Year" Award named after him, together with the opening of the new Queen's University library that he privately funded."

About Almac Group:

The Almac Group offers a broad range of services from R&D, biomarker discovery and development, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply and IXRS technology (IVRS/IWRS), to commercial-scale manufacture. Almac provides services to more than 600 companies, including all the world leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

The company employs almost 3,000 individuals and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. US operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California. Almac has officially gained full possession of its new $120m North American Headquarters which started in July 2008 and employees are relocating during the fall.

For more information about the Almac Group, please visit http://www.almacgroup.com

SOURCE Almac Group