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IMS Health Buys in Russia
Pharma research specialist IMS Health will conclude a deal at the end of the month to buy Russian competitor RMBC for an estimated cost of between $4.5m and $7m. The acquisition will increase IMS' share of the Russian pharma research market from 10% to approximately 40%.
RMBC, now owned by Moscow-headquartered pharma marketing and consulting group Remedium, was founded in 1999. The firm conducts studies of the Russian pharma market, consults on the marketing and promotion of medical and parapharmaceutical products, audits retail and hospital drug sales, and ranks pharma companies. Its pharmacy panel covers 52 regions, and the firm can also provide medical representatives for short-term projects. After the take-over, RMBC will become part of IMS Health Russia.
In 2006, MR association ESOMAR valued the Russian research market at $198m, and in 2007 the value is thought to have increased by 30%, with pharma research accounting for c.5% of the market.
The firms are online at www.imshealth.com and www.rmbc.ru.
Earlier this month, IMS Health announced plans to cut staff numbers by 10% during 2008 in a restrucuring effort to save money and improve efficiency (www.mrweb.com/drno/news7765.htm ).
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