Huntsworth acquires ScopeMedical

UK communications group Huntsworth has acquired ScopeMedical in a deal that could be worth up to £11 million.

The Kent-based medical communications agency will continue to be led by chief executive Jeremy Williams and chief financial officer William Allingham, and will operate under the Huntsworth Health brand.

The duo will also focus on developing the agency within Huntsworth’s global medical communications operations, which were earlier this year reorganised around the ApotheCom Europe brand, with its public relations business consolidated in Tonic Life Communications.

Huntsworth Health chief executive Neil Matheson said: We are delighted to welcome ScopeMedical to our family of best-in-class agencies. ScopeMedical is one of Europe’s most respected medical communications agencies, working with blue-chip clients on the basis of strong business relationships, excellence in strategic thinking and the highest quality scientific and medical content.

“This best-in-class reputation together with international reach will contribute to the expansion of the quality services that we offer to the pharmaceutical sector.”

ScopeMedical’s Jeremy Williams said: “In order to continue to realise our vision of being a world leader in medical communications, we were looking for a partner that would enable us to expand our service offering while also expanding our business reach on a global basis.

“I am thrilled that we found the perfect partner in Huntsworth and I am very excited about the synergy we will have with Huntsworth Health.”

Founded in 1995, ScopeMedical’s grown has been driven by winning and developing clients with products at phase II of their development lifecycle and last year it made a pre-tax profit of £0.76 million.

Huntsworth will initially pay £4.6 million for the agency, with further payments based on ScopeMedical’s performance over the next four years up to a maximum total consideration of £11 million.

Dominic Tyer