Background
Houston biopharmaceutical company Encysive Pharmaceuticals
Inc. discovers, develops, and commercializes novel, small-molecule
compounds to treat various cardiovascular, vascular, and related
inflammatory diseases.
Encysive Pharmaceuticals
has collaborative and licensing agreements with Mitsubishi Pharma
Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Schering Corporation, Schering-Plough
Ltd. and Revotar Biopharmaceuticals, AG. Founded in 1989, Encysive
was formerly known as Texas Biotechnology Corporation.
In the United States and Canada, Encysive offers Argatroban, a
synthetic agent that treats heparin-induced
thrombocytopenia. In the European Union and Australia, Encysive
offers Thelin, which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Encysive has additional compounds in clinical development.
Challenge
Encysive chemists, biologists, and clinical trial
supervisors spend days conducting scientific research, managing
clinical studies, and reporting their findings. Scientists and
managers depend on these
activities to achieve company goals and profits.
But it's often difficult
for highly educated scientists to discuss complex
matters
in language that's quickly understandable to business professionals,
regulatory agencies, and especially the lay public—including
patients, investors, and media. Frequently scientists find
it difficult
to
use the written
word
to convey scientific ideas even to each other accurately. This
is true especially when for some professionals English is their
second language.
One Encysive manager of clinical trials asked the human relations
department if the company could bring onsite an expert in professional
writing to give practical classes. This, he thought, would improve
not only productivity but also self-assurance. Encysive had a
perfect solution: ask Techstyle Group LLC, whose long experience
in clear, Standard English writing and executive education would
surely
produce
a spectacular outcome—to create and deliver
to staff classes customized especially for them. Encysive HR also
knew that Techstyle's president Laurel Prokop is an educated and
experienced life scientist in addition to being an English expert.
So her company is fluent in the languages of science and medicine.
Approach
Techstyle agreed to develop custom
Encysive writing classes—one each for the biologists, the chemists,
and the clinical trial managers from all over the nation. Before
preparing our classes, we asked the HR manager to give us samples
of writing
their professionals had already performed, particularly writing
the staff themselves found challenging to produce or writing their
audiences found difficult to understand.
Solution
Using the samples HR provided us, we customized
specific modules for each group at the Houston campus to show scientists
exact methods they could use to write more easily and more clearly
for each subject
specialty. Techstyle delivered to each group a two-hour
seminar and a two-hour
writing
workshop. As
always,
when we
deliver executive classses, we learn as much from our attendees
as they do from us. The outcome was all that Encysive had hoped
for.
The company realized its investment was worthwhile
when they read student comments:
"Presenter knew her stuff—very comfortable with speaking.
I enjoyed her wit. Gave me good basis for review of my writing."
"Speaker enthusiastic and knowledgeable about
the topics."
"I enjoyed presenter and information covered. PowerPoint slides
effective. I learned a lot!"
"Nice refresher on English principles. Great presentation. Demonstrated
that we ALL need to improve our writing. Hit on important topics
and ideas. Slides well organized. Examples helpful. I liked the
general tone—that we can all learn to write better. Made
me stop and think about my writing style. Rules presented will
stick
in my mind!"
About Techstyle Group LLC
Techstyle Group LLC is a privately held company providing communication
and documentation services. It specializes in using plain language
to improve the clarity of content delivered to diverse audiences
in many formats. Techstyle is a nationally certified, woman-owned
business that has operated since 1986. For further information,
visit www.Techstyle.com,
contact Techstyle Group LLC through media.tsg @ techstyle.com,
or call toll-free at 866-661-6660.
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