In-House or Outsourced? When to Partner with a Life Science Marketing Agency

Marketing demands are growing and changing, especially for companies in rapidly evolving life science industries. One of the biggest emerging trends has been the adoption of in-house teams to replace or augment traditional advertising or marketing agencies. In surveys conducted by the Association of National Advertisers every five years, the percentage of ANA members with in-house agencies has grown significantly over the last 15 years. In 2023, more than 80 percent of ANA members, which include client-side marketers at major biotech and pharma companies, reported having in-house agencies.

Having an in-house agency offers many advantages but also creates a few dilemmas. For example, when a new project comes up, it can be hard to decide: should your in-house team take it on, or should you hire outside specialists from a life science marketing agency?

In-house teams are great for handling routine tasks and smaller projects. However, for more extensive, complex initiatives, an outside agency with writers and designers specializing in life science marketing may be better suited to handle the workload. Whether it’s a rebrand, a product launch, or a significant company event, this guide will help you determine when to lean on your internal team and when to bring in external help.