News
Datapharm to improve global accessibility of medicines information with the acquisition of Original Digital
Jul 22, 2024
Datapharm is excited to announce the acquisition of healthcare technology company, Original Digital.
SURREY, UK: 23 July 2024: Datapharm, a leading provider of medicines information, has announced the acquisition of Original Digital Limited (ODL), a company recognised for its delivery of Scientific Response Documents (SRDs) search technology. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in Datapharm’s mission to make essential medicines information more accessible globally, ultimately supporting healthcare professionals (HCPs) in delivering informed and effective patient care.
HCPs expect easy access to Medical Information but struggle to find content online that they can trust. To address this unmet need, ODL collaborated with Medical Information Leaders in Europe (MILE) to develop innovative SRD search technology which enables HCPs to retrieve accurate responses to their specific questions about medicines, within their established information-seeking journeys.
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) is a firmly established online information-seeking journey for HCPs. With over 85 million visitors annually, emc is HCPs’ trusted website for up-to-date information on medicines licensed in the UK. Operated by Datapharm, the emc currently hosts non-promotional content from more than 320 global pharmaceutical companies.
Recognising the emc as a key medicines information resource for HCPs, over the past year, ODL, MILE and Datapharm have piloted making SRD search technology available on the emc platform.
Following this successful pilot, Datapharm has now acquired ODL in order to enhance the service, scale the availability of SRD search and leverage ODL’s technology pipeline to host even more content types on the emc – building a fully comprehensive medicines information platform for Pharma, HCPs and patients.
By combining Datapharm’s extensive compendium expertise with ODL’s SRD search capabilities, the enhanced platform positions emc as a single source of truth for medicines information in the UK. Moreover, this integration enables Datapharm to extend its competitive offering into the global market, making SRD search capabilities accessible in compendia worldwide.
Rich Cooper, CEO of Datapharm, commented: “This acquisition is an important step towards our vision of improving the accessibility of medicines information globally. With ODL’s innovative SRD search capabilities, we can offer HCPs around the world an unmatched resource while supporting pharmaceutical companies in making up-to-date safety information on their products available 24/7.”
“Many HCPs prefer to access medicines information online, but finding a trusted resource is key. emc is that resource and so joining Datapharm will significantly advance our mission of improving the accessibility of information on medicines. Together we will develop even more innovative advancements to the online availability of accurate medicines information.” said Ian Hamilton, Company Director at Original Digital.
Stefne Pienaar, President of MILE added, “MILE is proud to have been a key catalyst in the instigation and piloting of this innovative technology and to have worked with ODL, Datapharm and its members to demonstrate what can be achieved through close industry collaboration. Datapharm’s acquisition of ODL will further help to accelerate our goal of ensuring HCPs have access to comprehensive and accessible medicines information across the UK, Europe, and beyond.”
About SRD Search
Scientific Response Documents (SRDs) are developed by Pharma to address frequently asked questions about medicines. They provide essential information that enables HCPs to evaluate the treatment’s appropriateness for specific circumstances, conditions, and patients. ODL’s innovative SRD search technology, developed with MILE (Medical Information Leaders in Europe), enables HCPs to search online and retrieve accurate responses they can trust to their specific questions about medicines.
About Datapharm
Datapharm is the leading medicines information provider in the UK. Its medicines information database, emc (electronic medicines compendium) is the UK’s most comprehensive, trusted and accessible source of information on medicines, listing more than 10,000 medicines and attracting a growing audience of over 85 million visitors per year.
As a data company, Datapharm provides innovative solutions to support the Life Sciences and wider Healthcare sectors in their work with medicines information, serving more than 320 Pharma customers in the UK.
About Original Digital
Original Digital is a technology company that helps businesses understand the value of a medical project or idea, helping them to identify and implement it safely and cost effectively whilst reducing risk.
About Medical Information Leaders in Europe
MILE (Medical Information Leaders in Europe) is dedicated to the provision of accessible, accurate and balanced medical information that supports healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. As an industry association, it brings together Pharma leaders to support the development of innovative solutions that reflect evolving trends in this crucial area of the pharmaceuticals business.