Boots and IMS in Agreement

IMS Health yesterday announced a multi-year agreement with Boots The Chemist to deliver more comprehensive, over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare intelligence on the UK marketplace. Boots, the UK's leading OTC and healthcare products retailer, will provide IMS with access to all OTC and healthcare EPOS data from its 1,300+ stores.

IMS says the agreement further complements its existing Consumer Health offerings and enhances the ability of healthcare decision-makers to monitor and assess OTC product performance. Retail sales of OTC products in the UK are rising - up 9% to $3.6 billion (£1.91 billion) in 2003 - and expected to continue doing so.

Paul Johnson, general manager, IMS Consumer Health, says this is a significant development for the company's Consumer Health clients. 'This agreement between two market leaders will provide our clients with unrivalled capabilities to enrich knowledge and identify opportunities for OTC products in the UK ... in the independent pharmacy, mass market and convenience outlet channels'.

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

IMS' web site is at www.imshealth.com and Boots' at www.boots.co.uk

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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