Pharmaceutical Market Europe • June 2023 • 37
HEALTHCARE COMMS
The CM Group rebrands to OPEN Health following recent acquisition
US medical communications firm the CM Group has been rebranded to OPEN Health following its acquisition by the London-based healthcare agency last year.
The deal was originally announced in July 2022 by OPEN Health, which said the acquisition would broaden the range of services it offers to pharma and biotech companies.
OPEN Health’s chief executive officer, Rob Barker, said at the time: “The CM Group provides us with a significant scientific communication offering within the US domestic marketplace.
“Our clients are global and need providers who understand not only the increasing complexity of the science, but also the ever-changing global and local landscapes.”
While specific financial details were not disclosed, the agency said it was buying the CM Group from NaviMed Capital, a US-based and healthcare-focused private investment firm.
Less than one year on, following an “extensive rebranding” period, the CM Group will now be known as OPEN Health.
Barker said: “We are delighted to integrate the CM Group into our global team of over 1,300 experts who partner with 38 of the top 40 biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, serving clients from Medical Affairs, HEOR, market access and commercial teams.”
President of the recently acquired agency, Cherie Myatt, added: “The integration journey with OPEN Health has been an exciting and rewarding one, and we are pleased to be able to now offer a wider range of expertise to our clients.”
The announcement comes just a few months after OPEN Health said it would be acquiring US-based life sciences strategy and advisory firm Acsel Health.
OPEN Health said the New York firm’s “deep industry expertise, scientific rigour and actionable analysis drives its success in providing valued partnership to life science companies”.
“Acsel is an extraordinary addition to OPEN Health,” Barker said at the time of the announcement. “Acsel’s expert team and long-standing client relationships significantly strengthen our ability to support the commercialisation of our clients’ assets and unlock access for patients”.
The organisation also acquired medical communications agency Spirit in 2021, as well as digital creative agency ARK.
Rob Barker
Cherie Myatt
AMICULUM announces opening of latest UK office
Independent healthcare communications agency, AMICULUM, has announced the opening of its latest UK office.
The new Manchester base is located near Piccadilly train station, the agency said, “giving employees the benefit of a modern and collaborative workspace, with the convenience of close proximity to public transport links”.
“The bespoke office design thoughtfully combines more traditional desk space with collaboration areas and flexible meeting room spaces,” the agency added.
The agency has also recently opened another permanent office in Glasgow, as well as a flexible working hub in Sheffield to provide its employees with the option to meet up and work “on an ad hoc basis”.
Dr Richard Allcorn, AMICULUM co-founder, said: “By combining remote working with in-person collaboration, we hope to give team members the flexibility to adopt a working pattern that suits them. We believe that this approach will enable us to continue to attract and retain the best talent while delivering a high-quality service to our clients.”
Created in 2001, the agency has grown steadily over the past 20 years and now boasts a global team of over 350 healthcare communications professionals based in New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
The agency delivers a range of services to its healthcare clients, including brand launches and promotional materials, clinical and commercial consulting, and creative visuals and branding.
It has also recently announced a collaboration with the University of Dundee to develop a one-year Master’s course in science and health communication.
The key objective for the programme, which is set to launch in September this year, is to develop a course that combines the theory around health communication with application to a spectrum of industries within health and science communication in order to enhance employability once students graduate.
The agency is “delighted to be collaborating with the University of Dundee on this project”, Allcorn said. “We hope that the course will help raise awareness of the importance of scientific communications as a key component of healthcare and prepare graduates for the many exciting career options that are open to them.”