Clarivate to Buy Decision Resources Group

Innovation insights and data firm Clarivate Analytics is to acquire healthcare-focused research and data provider Decision Resources Group (DRG) from its present owner, Piramal. The $950m price tag comprises $900m in cash and approximately $50m in Clarivate shares.

DRG offers expert consultation and analysis enhanced by machine learning and AI, to provide a comprehensive view of patient access, and payer and health system dynamics at local levels for the global healthcare ecosystem. The firm, which employs experts spanning healthcare markets, disease areas and data science disciplines, was acquired by India-based pharmaceutical product manufacturer Piramal Healthcare in 2012 for around $635m.

As part of the latest transaction, DRG's current CEO, Vivek Sharma, will leave the company when the business joins Clarivate Analytics' Science Group, under the stewardship of Mukhtar Ahmed, President-Science Group. Clarivate says the combined business will offer a 'one-stop shop' for life sciences customers.

Clarivate Executive Chairman and CEO Jerre Stead (pictured) comments: 'This is a milestone acquisition which doubles the size of our Life Sciences business, is accretive to our 2020 earnings, and sets us up to become an essential, end-to-end, industry-leading data and analytics provider to the highly attractive life sciences ecosystem. Both companies have a great heritage - built on talented people with deep industry subject matter and technical expertise. Together, we look forward to unlocking the tremendous potential of a unified team'.

Web sites: www.clarivate.com and www.decisionresourcesgroup.com .