DH was proud to support a long-standing pharmaceutical partner as they prepared to unveil one of the nation's largest manufacturing facilities dedicated to radioligand therapies (RLTs)—innovative precision medicines targeting and treating cancer cells. With just two months until the ribbon cutting, the client approached us to execute a press event that would celebrate the facility's opening and highlight their dedication to Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, and advancing patient care with this transformative cancer treatment.
"People living with advanced cancers need as many options as they can get. Innovation is vital for patients, and facilities that help ensure the present and future delivery of treatment are critical for patients."
Through the lens of pioneering the future of oncology, this pharmaceutical company sees RLTs as a transformative method to cancer treatment. With that came their biggest challenge, which was the complexity of manufacturing and delivering RLTs on a tight timeline. The opening of this new facility would mark a significant milestone—it establishes a delivery network within a 12-hour drive for 50% of the U.S. population and quick access to an airport for rapid shipping to oncologists nationwide. As a result, the client needed this facility opening to make a significant impact, highlight their choice of Indianapolis as the location, and reinforce their strong commitment to helping patients as a core part of their culture. DH started collaborating with them on structuring a ceremony that would fulfill all of these objectives and make a memorable impact.
Furthermore, while we developed a plan from our initial site visit to position the tent on the facility’s parking lot—providing a flat surface ideal for setup—the facility staff informed our client partners six weeks into production that we would no longer be able to occupy 70% of the 24/7 parking space. This unexpected change would require us to pivot our creative strategy so that we could still meet the project’s needs effectively.
DH kicked off on-site production by constructing the on-site tent in the turf across from the manufacturing facility, rather than utilizing its parking lot adjacent to the grassy area. We added ground covers and paths to this layout to accommodate for any uneven terrain.
Then, we had the opportunity to bring the client's theme, "Leading the Way in RLT," to fruition through every aspect of design. We began with theme graphics and a custom PowerPoint template, setting the tone for the overall scenic design in the event space; the idea was to create an experience that felt both celebratory and impactful for the 300 attendees—comprising client employees, corporate HQ personnel, facility workers, and government officials. We installed a 42-by-16-foot stage, a curved 28-foot-wide LED wall, and large-scale Atomic rental panels framing the setup on both sides of the staging, establishing an environment that immersed guests in the event's electricity. Prior to the official ribbon cutting moment onstage at the end of the general session, attendees suited up in protective gear to tour the new facility before congregating for a catered lunch and heading over to the main tent for the general session. Programming included patient advocacy panels in addition to presentations from notable figures such as Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, U.S. Representative Greg Pence, and Victor Bultó, President of Novartis U.S.
DH was committed to going above and beyond for our partners when the circumstances called for it. When a rainy weather forecast was anticipated, we proactively secured umbrellas to ensure guests would remain dry and travel comfortably between the main tent and the facility. All in all, the clients were thrilled with the outcome of the event, and our attention-to-detail approach contributed to making a strong impression. The groundbreaking of this facility eventually led to the planned opening of a third RLT manufacturing site in Carlsbad, CA—further enhancing the production of cutting-edge cancer treatments and bringing the client company closer to their goal of expanding life-changing treatments for patients impacted by cancer.
