US group swoops for healthcare comms agency
A Salisbury-headquartered international healthcare communications agency has been acquired by a US group, in a deal advised on by BCMS.
Founded in 2013 by Louise Sharp, Makara Health specialises in strategic, scientifically robust programs and creative delivery solutions for its roster of healthcare client companies.
The business employs 80 staff and offers integrated services including brand and promotion; learning and development; medical education; PR and communications; and patient education.
It has been bought by Precision Value & Health, part of Precision Medicine Group, a provider of drug development and commercialisation services.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Precision Value & Health partners with global life science companies to establish and communicate the clinical, economic, and humanistic value of innovative therapies.
With the acquisition, Makara becomes part of the Precision Value & Health team. The Makara team will work with PRECISIONscientia, an agency dedicated to delivering medical and scientific communications that expertly interpret and translate the science of medicine.
The move will expand Precision’s European footprint and reinforce the company’s market growth position with its core capabilities in Europe.
Doug Fulling, president of Precision Value & Health, said: “Broadening the reach of our services in Europe is one of Precision Value & Health’s focused strategies in order to extend our offering to more organizations and healthcare clinicians around the world. Ensuring scientific rigor and accuracy for those responsible for the care of patients is a business imperative for Precision, and Makara’s proven track record beautifully complements our offerings.”
Sharp said: “It was very important for us to align with the right company – one that shared our values and would ensure that Makara would continue to offer clients fresh and robust thinking from an experienced and talented team. We are excited to say that we have found this with Precision Value & Health, a company that shares our approach and our belief in the scientific story as the foundation of every pharmaceutical brand.”
BCMS transaction manager Jim Whitaker, who led the deal on behalf of Makara Health, added: “We are delighted to have advised this fantastic healthcare communications business on its sale to Precision Value & Health. BCMS has a very strong track record in this sector, and in Precision, we believe we have found a perfect strategic buyer – one who values the excellent work Makara Health has delivered for its clients over a decade of successful trading, and provides a clear cultural and commercial fit for the company’s expert team of 80 professionals.”
Alongside corporate finance advice from BCMS, Makara Health received legal advice from Helen Mead and team at DMH Stallard.
