US-based biopharmaceutical services company Quintiles has continued an aggressive programme of investment by acquiring outcomes research specialist Outcome Sciences, Inc.
As well as beefing up its late-phase research capabilities, Quintiles has broadened its commercial services offering by snapping up VCG & Associates and VCG BIO, also US-based and with experience in market access, product distribution and reimbursement strategies. No financial terms were released for either of these deals.
Outcome Sciences is a privately held company with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Set up in 1998, it is described by Quintiles as the world’s leading provider of observational research services, which may include registries, post-approval research and quality improvement initiatives across multiple healthcare stakeholders – biopharmaceutical and medical device companies as well as government and providers.
Outcome has designed, developed and managed more patient registries and post-approval studies than any other company, with programmes ranging over more than 40 therapeutic areas and taking in thousands of sites and millions of patients across more than 80 countries, Quintiles said.
Industry powerhouse
The acquisition positions Quintiles as “the industry powerhouse in late phase research, offering global reach, robust dedicated resources and specialisation”, it added.
With an increasing emphasis on delivering product value to patients, providers and payers, the phase IIIB/IV market is forecast to reach more than US$4 billion by 2015 (Jefferies & Co data), up significantly from 2010, Quintiles noted. It estimates the observational research portion of that market to be around 30%.
Richard Gliklich, the founder and president of Outcome Sciences, will assume the role of global head of Late Phase at Quintiles.
“There is tremendous opportunity for a best-in-class provider of the full spectrum of late-phase and comparative effectiveness research services on a worldwide basis,” Gliklich commented. “To be that entity, we needed to find the right partner. That partner is Quintiles and the time is now.”
Customers will gain from the combination of Outcome’s strength in observational research with Quintiles’ interventional Phase IIIB and IV presence and capabilities, Gliklich added.
“We benefit from Quintiles’ global reach, financial flexibility, and access to biopharma customers and unique data analytics capabilities,” he said. “Together, we will continue to assist our clients with demonstrating or improving the safety, effectiveness, value and quality of their healthcare products, therapies and services.”
VCG assets
Based in Holliston, Massachusetts and Cave Creek, Arizona respectively, VCG & Associates and VCG BIO develop strategic healthcare marketing initiatives to address challenges around pharmaceutical market entry in the US.
The acquisition complements the solutions and capabilities offered by Quintiles’ Commercial and Consulting divisions to emerging biopharmaceutical players, companies looking to establish a commercial presence in the US, and drug development companies entering the commercial space for the first time, noted Rich Pilnik, president, Global Commercial Solutions.
“By creating virtual companies – utilising market access services, proven distribution channels and reimbursement strategies – biopharma can bring needed therapies to market faster and more efficiently,” Pilnik commented.
Quintiles said it would continue to investigate both organic and acquisition opportunities “to strengthen our expertise and expand our capabilities in sectors that most matter to our customers”.
