IMS Health is spending 385 million euros in cash to buy French firm Cegedim’s information solutions and customer relationship management businesses.

The US-based healthcare data provider noted that the businesses, which had revenues of 424 million euros and adjusted earnings of 64 million euros last year, employ about 4,500 workers, and include a database that provides information about 13.7 million healthcare professionals across the globe. The CRM solutions part helps life sciences clients in 80 countries “drive sales effectiveness, optimise marketing programmes across multiple channels and mitigate regulatory compliance risks”, IMS Health claimed.

The latter’s chief executive, Ari Bousbib, said that “the global combination of product, technology, infrastructure and people capabilities will bring compelling, integrated solutions to our clients and allow for greater operational efficiency”. His counterpart at Cegedim, Jean-Claude Labrune, said the deal “is a response to the significant market changes in the pharmaceutical industry”, giving it “access to a significantly expanded
commercial suite of services”.

Cegedim added that the deal will allow it to focus on software and databases for health care professionals and insurance companies and its “fast-growing multi-industry activities such as e-business, e-collaboration and outsourced payroll and HR management”.