37 - HEALTHCARE COMMS

Real Chemistry has announced its acquisition of Avant Healthcare to “power up” its healthcare professional (HCP) engagement and medical communications capabilities.

Though financial details of the deal were not disclosed, Real Chemistry outlined that US-based Avant will become part of its current medical group, bringing the headcount to 450.

Avant’s current leadership team will remain with the firm, with Trina Stonner, Avant’s chief customer officer and president, co-leading Real Chemistry’s medical group with Suzanne Jacobs, who leads Real Chemistry’s current medical team.

Shankar Narayanan, chief executive officer of Real Chemistry, said: “Our clients are asking for more personalised, engaging and timely medical communications that together, Avant and Real Chemistry will create.”

Narayanan added that the life sciences industry is “investing heavily” in addressing complex diseases with new therapies, which require “significant HCP education and engagement to reach and benefit the patients who need them”.

He continued: “At the same time, demographic changes happening with HCPs are having a profound effect on how companies need to effectively engage with them.

“Expanding our capabilities with Avant brings us even greater scientific expertise, strength and creativity to partner with our clients to fully leverage the next generation of product breakthroughs in the next few years.”

Avant focuses on using science, data-driven strategies and digital and creative capabilities to develop and facilitate messaging to HCPs, while Real Chemistry’s approach centres on providing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights and marketing for the healthcare industry.

Deborah Wood, founder and chairwoman at Avant, said: “Our clients will benefit from the expanded data and AI capabilities Real Chemistry brings, the global reach and the richer service offering across the full marketing and communications spectrum.

“Our employees have greater professional development opportunities to grow while joining a company that has a similar culture.”

The acquisition, which closed on 1 February, came just three months after Real Chemistry opened a second UK-based office in Manchester and appointed four new leaders.

Narayanan said at the time of the announcement that the company had experienced “tremendous growth in the EMEA market” since opening its London office in 2009.

Helios has announced its acquisition of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) and market access firm Cogentia.

UK-based Cogentia conducts research and data-led health analysis to help global pharmaceutical companies get products to market and ensure patient uptake, while Helios provides consultancy, medical and scientific communications, and commercialisation solutions to pharma and biotech clients.

The deal, for which financial details have not been disclosed, will “add another dimension” to Helios’ capabilities and provide “greater insights” for its clients around launch, the company said.

Andrew Minnock, chief executive officer of Helios, said the merger “marks another significant step in the evolution of the company”.

He continued: “Adding the hugely important area of HEOR and market access to our service offering aligns with our long-standing strategic goals and will add another layer to our global capabilities for clients.”

Also commenting on the deal, James Morris, founder and director at Cogentia, said: “Bringing together two market leaders with aligned people-focused cultures, outstanding reputations for quality and a commitment to creating strong client partnerships, will strengthen our market positioning, enhance our solutions and create development opportunities for our teams.”

Helios, which is headquartered in Cheshire with further UK offices in Manchester and Oxford, as well as an expanding US base in Connecticut, currently employs over 250 healthcare communications professionals.

The company said: “We look forward to introducing our expanded set of capabilities to our global pharma and biotech clients, and to celebrating many shared milestones and successes together in the future.”

Helios noted that the transaction follows a “strong period of growth,” with the company having more than doubled its revenues, grown its headcount by 150 and expanded its global operations over the past three years.

Phil Frame, partner at NorthEdge, which backs the company, said: “We have seen the Helios team prove [its] continued commitment to excellence, working closely with [its] colleagues and clients to deliver projects of huge global significance that improve patient outcomes, all while implementing strategically important initiatives that support the long-term ambitions of the business.

“The acquisition of Cogentia sees this ambitious mindset continue, allowing the group to offer even more comprehensive support to [its] clients.”

Real Chemistry acquires Avant Healthcare to boost HCP messaging capabilities

Helios acquires HEOR and market access firm Cogentia