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GfK Buys, Takes Custom HealthCare Lead
GfK has acquired the remaining shares in US pharmaceutical specialist GfK V2, of which it bought 51% in summer 2003; and is integrating its US activities in the healthcare sector into one unit. The group says recent purchases make it world no.1 for custom research in the sector.
Following its takeover of NOP World, GfK is combining Market Measures, Strategic Marketing Corporation and GfK V2 into the single unit, which will take the name GfK U.S. HealthCare Companies. GfK says that ownership of the three US companies makes it the biggest global provider of custom market research services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare industries, a market whose global value it estimates at EUR 900 million, with more than 60% originating from the pharma and healthcare industries in the USA.
V2 was established in 1994 by Dr. Richard B. Vanderveer and offers research services as well as strategic consulting for the pharmaceutical and biotech markets and for the medical diagnostics industry. GfK V2 also conducts surveys in Europe, Central and Latin America and Japan from its base in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
Vanderveer will be CEO of the new unit while Bart Weiner is President and COO and Dan Fitzgerald Executive VP. Vanderveer says that the involvement of GfK over the past two years has helped V2 to 'further consolidate its position with national and global corporations in the pharma and healthcare industries as one of the leading research companies in the US... Being a member of the GfK network has given us increased opportunity of raising our profile with our clients as a provider of comprehensive consulting services at an international level'.
Wilhelm R. Wessels, member of the GfK Management Board with responsibility for GfK HealthCare, says the acquisition of GfK V2 has enabled the group to speed up the integration of all US pharmaceutical research activities. 'For GfK, the complete acquisition of GfK V2 constitutes an important step on the way to achieving a leading position for market research in global healthcare markets'.
GfK's group home page is at www.gfk.com
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