IMS Health makes third deal in three months

IMS Health, a Danbury, Conn.-based prescription drug data-miner, has announced its third acquisition in as many months with the addition of cloud-based mobile sales and marketing systems provider 360 Vantage, Chandler, Ariz.

Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition is expected to extend IMS Health's commercial software-as-a-service capabilities for life sciences and healthcare organizations through its commercial platform known as IMS One, according to a news release. IMS One combines the data of IMS Health and third parties for sales, marketing and performance management activities for its clients. And the addition of 360 Vantage brings along technologies that include a mobile-ready, life-sciences optimized customer relationship management platform with social media tools, customer analytics and reporting.

“With this acquisition, we are building capabilities to give organizations greater insights about customer interactions across multiple channels and touch points, and to help them streamline their commercial processes for improved return on investment,” Chris Nickum, president of commercial effectiveness services at IMS Health, said in the release. “Through a seamlessly integrated view, they can better analyze data, visualize opportunities and drive measurable gains in performance.

The acquisition follows two recent purchases by the healthcare software, technology and analytics company. In April, IMS Health acquired Appature, a market adviser for the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer healthcare industries, and then in May acquired social-media analytics company Semantelli Corp.