From Crisis to Cure: Delivering COVID-19 Treatments Through Operation Warp Speed

The Challenge

As millions of Americans faced life-threatening complications from COVID-19 infection, researchers raced to find treatments that could save lives. Led by the National Institutes of Health, the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) clinical trials needed study participants to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential COVID-19 therapeutic treatments among populations with the greatest risk of infection, hospitalization, and/or death from COVID-19. This included monoclonal antibodies, antivirals, and immune modulators.

Our Solution

IQ Solutions moved quickly to develop and promote the national Combat COVID campaign to raise awareness of the ACTIV clinical trials and encourage widespread participation. This entailed extensive market research, message, content, and creative development, paid and earned media outreach, stakeholder and community engagement, and website development. We concentrated outreach to patients from high-risk populations — particularly Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino communities — as well as caregivers of people with COVID-19 and health care providers.

The Impact

Our team enlisted more than 500 national, state, and community-based organizations and experts to heighten public awareness of the ACTIV clinical trials. More than 3.5 million Combat COVID touchpoint interactions were achieved through paid, social, and owned channels featuring more than 120 creative executions. Our satellite and radio media tours achieved more than 15 million impressions throughout the United States.