GfK Buys Healthcare Consultancy Bridgehead Intl

GfK has expanded its healthcare practice with the acquisition of market access consultancy Bridgehead International, which serves companies across the pharma, medical device and diagnostics sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The firm - which will now be known as GfK Bridgehead - provides clients with support in pricing, reimbursement, health economics and market access, while also offering insight and knowledge about local healthcare systems in current and emerging markets.

It generated sales of EUR 12.12m in 2011, and following the acquisition will maintain and grow its team of 60 staff from its offices in Melton Mowbray and London in the UK, as well as Boston, San Francisco and New York in the US. Timothy Fitzgerald will continue to lead the organization as Managing Director.

As part of the deal, GfK will tap into Bridgehead's global payer panel and its US online portal, which provides insight into the views of payers covering nearly 200 million people.

GfK's COO Debra Pruent comments: 'The acquisition of Bridgehead represents an important strategic investment for GfK at a time when governments, insurance companies and other healthcare providers are increasingly using pricing and reimbursement controls in an attempt to contain spiraling healthcare costs.'

Web sites: www.gfk.com and www.bridgehead.com .