IMS Health acquires Privacy Analytics

DANBURY, Conn. — IMS Health on Thursday announced that it had acquired Toronto, Canada-based Privacy Analytics, which offers tech solutions to de-identify and anonymize healthcare information. The company said the acquisition would build up its ability to help clients drive research and development while reinforcing its role as a partner to health systems, payers and providers. 

 

“This acquisition strengthens our role as a leading patient privacy and data protection advocate while increasing the value clients across healthcare can realize from real-world evidence,” IMS Health VP and general manager RWE solutions Jon Resnick said. “Applying this proven standard globally, we can unleash the full potential of end-to-end RWE insights, from clinical trials through commercial execution. Privacy Analytics extends our ability to connect healthcare stakeholders—ultimately helping to improve the health of patients and the care delivery systems serving them.”

 

Among Privacy Analytics’ solutions are scalable tools for de-identifying and anonymizing patient-level data. IMS Health said it would use the company’s suite of solutions to develop new approaches and improve current methods for ensuring responsible use of anonymous health care information. 

 

“Our team of healthcare data privacy experts has pioneered the methodologies, software and services that enable responsible use of complex health information,” Privacy Analytics CEO and founder Khaled El Emam said. “We are excited to join IMS Health, which offers us a global platform and leading-edge technologies that bring our privacy compliance innovations to a broader client base across life sciences and healthcare.”