WASHINGTON: APCO Worldwide is providing media relations support for a coalition of drug companies hoping to persuade the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to permit distribution of peer-reviewed articles on "off-label" use of drugs to doctors.

SANTA CLARA, CA: McAfee selected Red Consultancy as its consumer AOR. The six-figure contract adds consumer duties to the firm's existing corporate and enterprise responsibilities. The selection followed a competitive bid by six agencies.

SAN FRANCISCO: EA Sports launched a new global sub-brand to strengthen its appeal among casual video-game users.

CHICAGO: Encyclopedia Britannica is promoting its online information as a free service to Web publishers, and has hired Holtz Communication & Technology (HC&T) to focus PR efforts on bloggers.

NEW YORK: The Warnaco Group hired Kaplow as AOR for its Warner's and Olga brands, effective May 1, after a multiple-round review process.

The campaign aims to collect 1 million volunteers to pledge their time or money in support of bringing freedom to Burma and releasing political activist Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

NEW YORK: Piaggio Group USA consolidated the PR functions for its four major brands to one agency by naming Brandware AOR for Vespa and Piaggio scooters and Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycle brands.

NEW YORK: The Reader's Digest Association (RDA) selected DKC as AOR for its Reader's Digest title and corresponding Web site, focusing immediately on brand revitalization, media outreach, and content distribution.

PALO ALTO, CA: Facebook hired Elliot Schrage, former VP of global communications and public affairs at Google, as its new VP of communications and public policy.

SAN FRANCISCO: EA Sports launched a new global sub-brand to strengthen its appeal among casual video game users.