LaVoie Group Wins Gold Mercury Award For Medical Device Company, Alphatec Spine

SALEM, Mass., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LaVoie Group, the acknowledged leader in life science and pharmaceutical communications, announced today that it has received a Gold Award in the 24th Annual International Mercury Excellence Awards 2010/2011 competition, given annually by MerComm, Inc. LaVoie Group also received Honors for the agency's own website. The Agency also reported record revenue growth of 60% fueled by expansion of client business in two key practice areas product communications and corporate communications and IR.

The winning Gold award campaign was for Alphatec Spine for creation of their internal communications campaign titled, "Alphatec Spine Brand Book."  Alphatec Spine, an innovative provider of spinal devices including quality fusion products, improved minimally invasive solutions and integrated biologics products engaged LaVoie Group following the Company's acquisition of Scient'x, a European spinal products company, to establish brand unification.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for a key program initiated in 2010 with medical device leader, Alphatec Spine. We pride ourselves on creating strategic and impactful public relations, investor relations and branding campaigns, and we're delighted when the team's work is recognized by an established group like MerComm."

LaVoie Group, working with design firm, Gill Fishman Associates of Cambridge, MA, undertook a phased rollout of  Alphatec Spine's new brand through key markets, including a logo redesign and transition, new brand personality, message development, website integration and ultimately, the corporate brand guidelines. The purpose of the program was to establish and maintain a consistent identity, and to promote a positive association of the brand with the newly joined companies.

In addition to receiving the Gold Award, LaVoie Group also received Honors for the re-design of the agency's corporate website, in the category of Self-Promotion: Website. With the new site, www.lavoiegroup.com, LaVoie Group has created an online communication experience that conveys the agency's evolving brand identity, services and core strengths as a leader in life science and pharmaceutical communications.

MerComm, Inc. was founded in 1987 with the principal purpose of advancing the arts and sciences of communications in an international arena. The Mercury Awards are now in their 24th year, receiving over 760 entries from 21 countries in 2010.

About LaVoie Group

LaVoie Group partners with leading life sciences brands to build their companies, attract capital, and reach key stakeholders through integrated communications programs. We provide senior-level counsel to our clients, create visibility, and develop strategies and implementation tactics for corporate and/or product programs on a global scale.

Our clients are industry leaders in life sciences and pharmaceuticals such as Pfizer Inc., sanofi-aventis, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Alphatec Spine, Invida Group, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Hepregen Corporation.  LaVoie Group is ranked by O'Dwyer's PR Report as one of the leading independent healthcare PR firms in the U.S. and has been honored by the LACP as "Boutique Agency of the Year" in both 2008 and 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.lavoiegroup.com.

SOURCE LaVoie Group