Makara Health sold to Precision Value & Health
BCMS has advised Makara Health, a UK-based international healthcare communications agency, on its acquisition by Precision Value & Health, part of Precision Medicine Group, a leading next-generation provider of drug development and commercialization services.
Founded in 2013 by Louise Sharp and based in Salisbury, Makara Health specializes in high-quality, strategic, scientifically robust programs and creative delivery solutions for its diverse roster of healthcare client companies. The business employs ~80 staff and offers five core integrated services: brand and promotion; learning and development; medical education; PR and communications; and patient education.
“The BCMS team supported me throughout… I cannot praise them highly enough. They were always by my side providing expert counsel and a great sounding board” – Louise Sharp, Makara Health
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, Precision Value & Health partners with global life science companies to establish and communicate the clinical, economic, and humanistic value of innovative therapies. Its proven commercialization capabilities include global pricing and market access strategy, investor relations and ESG solutions, healthcare communications and marketing, evidence generation and strategy, medical and scientific communications, managed-markets marketing, and data-driven analytics and insights.
With this acquisition, Makara becomes part of the Precision Value & Health team. The Makara team will work closely with PRECISIONscientia, an agency dedicated to delivering medical and scientific communications that expertly interpret and translate the science of medicine.
Deal perspectives
The move will expand Precision’s European footprint and reinforce the company’s market growth position with its core capabilities in Europe.
Commenting on the acquisition, Doug Fulling, president of Precision Value & Health, said: “Broadening the reach of our services in Europe is one of Precision Value & Health’s focused strategies in order to extend our offering to more organizations and healthcare clinicians around the world. Ensuring scientific rigor and accuracy for those responsible for the care of patients is a business imperative for Precision, and Makara’s proven track record beautifully complements our offerings.”
Louise Sharp, founder and CEO of Makara Health said: “It was very important for us to align with the right company – one that shared our values and would ensure that Makara would continue to offer clients fresh and robust thinking from an experienced and talented team. We are excited to say that we have found this with Precision Value & Health, a company that shares our approach and our belief in the scientific story as the foundation of every pharmaceutical brand.”
Commenting on BCMS’ role in the transaction, Louise added: “In considering the sale of my business, it was important for me to feel a connection with the team who would be supporting me on this journey. You spend a lot of time with this team! I wanted to work with people who were experienced and professional, down to earth and honest, supportive and caring, and who were also able to have a bit of fun along the way through the various phases of the transaction.
“I found these qualities and more in the whole BCMS team, who supported me throughout, from my first contact with Liz Jackson with her boundless energy, the wisdom of Jonathan Dunn, Jill Brennan for her patience, and my expert transaction team of Jim Whitaker, Kathryn Baldwin and Chisom Eyesan. I cannot praise them highly enough. Throughout the process, they were always by my side providing expert counsel and a great sounding board.
“I have achieved my business goal with BCMS of being acquired by a company that shares my values and those of Makara Health, and a company which I am proud to become a part of.”
Strong BCMS track record in healthcare comms
BCMS Transaction Manager Jim Whitaker, who led the deal on behalf of Makara Health, added: “We are delighted to have advised this fantastic healthcare communications business on its sale to Precision Value & Health. BCMS has a very strong track record in this sector, and in Precision, we believe we have found a perfect strategic buyer – one who values the excellent work Makara Health has delivered for its clients over a decade of successful trading, and provides a clear cultural and commercial fit for the company’s expert team of ~80 professionals.
“In a highly active sector for M&A, this was a competitive deal process, with significant international interest from a pool of buyers. It’s easy to see why: amongst its many positive qualities, Makara Health has particular strengths in its range of digital offerings and its stated focus on learning & development – notable growth areas in the pharmaceutical marketing services sector. It has been our pleasure to support Louise and the senior Makara Health team through the transaction, and it goes without saying that we wish all parties the very best moving forward.”
Alongside corporate finance advice from BCMS, Makara Health received legal advice from Helen Mead and team at DMH Stallard.
This is the latest of a number of healthcare communications transactions led by BCMS, including the sale of Spirit Medical to OPEN Health and Cambridge Medical Communication to Prime Global.
