Hannah Deresiewicz | Executive Vice President, Managing Director, IR Consulting
Kara Stephens-Weaver | VP, Public Relations
In biotech, every milestone, whether a Phase 2 readout, regulatory decision, or new partnership, is a high-stakes opportunity. These moments draw attention from investors, analysts, media, policymakers, and patients alike. How a company communicates can shape market perception, credibility, and long-term value.
Too often, investor relations (IR) and public relations (PR) operate in parallel rather than in concert. While their functions are similar, they are managed by different teams with distinct strategies, approaches, and goals. When communications operate in isolation, though, companies miss the opportunity to tell a unified story. That unified story creates a surround-sound effect that connects scientific progress to business strategy and ensures clarity across all audiences.
At Precision AQ, we’ve worked with companies across the biotech landscape to help them align their IR and PR strategies around key milestones. Each company’s needs are different, but the core principle remains the same: the strongest communication strategies are integrated, intentional, and built to reinforce trust.
At their best, IR and PR are complementary disciplines. IR is grounded in financial performance, market expectations, and regulatory disclosure. PR brings in storytelling, public perception, and broader narrative framing. When these functions collaborate from the start, before the press release is drafted or the earnings call is scheduled, the result is a story that is consistent, robust, and engaging.
When integration is lacking, the risks are real. Inconsistent messaging can lead to confusion among investors or trigger skepticism in the media. Mismatched timelines can delay news, create regulatory risk, or erode momentum. Lack of context can prevent key stakeholders from understanding what a milestone means in the broader picture.
Strong alignment avoids these pitfalls by allowing companies to lead with clarity, build credibility, and maximize impact. When news breaks, stakeholders aren’t just looking at what happened. They’re also evaluating how the company frames the event:
Take regulatory updates, for example. The outcome of a regulatory decision is critical. But the narrative around that decision can help drive how it’s received. A clearly communicated regulatory strategy, delivered in a unified voice across IR and PR, helps ensure stakeholders understand the facts and broader implications. To ensure consistent messaging across teams, consider developing a shared message map that acts as a centralized narrative and ties data, strategy, and story together. Commit to two to three core themes that every communication will reinforce (e.g. press release, investor deck, media interview).
Integrating IR and PR is about maximizing opportunity. When companies align their communications strategy around shared goals and narratives, they build trust across stakeholders, strengthen reputation and resilience, create clarity during moments of uncertainty, and position themselves for long-term value.
We’ve seen integrated communications move the needle in a range of scenarios:
These principles aren’t theoretical—they deliver measurable impact when applied with intention.
When our client recently announced an important collaboration, the news was more than just a partnership. It validated their scientific platform and strategic potential. We helped develop a joint IR and PR strategy that delivered:
The result was a story that resonated on Wall Street and in the scientific community. That kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of planning, collaboration, and a shared understanding of what’s at stake.
Every biotech company milestone is a chance to show who you are, not just what you’ve achieved. It’s a moment to articulate your vision, demonstrate maturity, and bring stakeholders along for the journey. But these moments don’t happen in a vacuum. They require planning, coordination, and a commitment to clarity.
Remember, the media is a significant source of information for investors. Coverage from reputable news sources lends credibility that company-led initiatives cannot. While investors may not be the primary audience, the third-party validation that comes from being featured in reputable publications such as Endpoints or STAT are impactful. Likewise, journalists pay attention to the companies that investors are tracking.
The companies that succeed are the ones that treat IR and PR as partners. They integrate their strategies and plan for alignment from the start.
In biotech, where trust and timing are everything, integration isn’t just a communications best practice. It’s a strategic advantage.
Are you looking to align your investor relations and public relations efforts?
We help biotech teams communicate with clarity. Let’s talk. Reach out to: IREC@precisionaq.com