Bristol-Myers Puts Media in Play

For the first time in decades, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is looking for an agency to handle its $275 million U.S. media planning and buying account.

The drug marketer’s media budget has been handled in-house for more than a quarter century. Several undisclosed media shops are scheduled to make presentations or have recently met with the New York-based client, sources said.

Bristol-Myers, whose brands include Excedrin and Enfamil, spent about $400 million on media in 2000, according to Competitive Media Reporting.