IMS Health has acquired Privacy Analytics, a provider of technology solutions for de-identifying and anonymizing healthcare information, to extend its Real-World Evidence (RWE) capabilities. Affirming IMS Health’s long-standing practices for safeguarding patient privacy, the acquisition advances the company’s ability to help life sciences clients drive R&D and commercial performance and demonstrate treatment value in real-world settings. It also reinforces IMS Health’s role as a partner of choice for health systems, payers, providers and researchers as they seek new insights from healthcare data—with strong support for responsible privacy management.

Canada-based Privacy Analytics offers an innovative suite of data governance software and advisory services that enable stakeholders to optimize benefits of the growing volume and availability of new, complex datasets while protecting patient privacy. Solutions include scalable tools for de-identifying and anonymizing structured and unstructured patient-level data. Combining Privacy Analytics’ proprietary capabilities—a proven standard for safeguarding personal health information and ensuring privacy compliance—with IMS Health’s mission-critical anonymous information, data management capabilities, and scientific and commercial expertise will enhance the usability of real-world data globally.

“Our team of healthcare data privacy experts has pioneered the methodologies, software and services that enable responsible use of complex health information,” said Khaled El Emam, founder and CEO, Privacy Analytics. “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.”

Privacy Analytics’ capabilities will be used across IMS Health to develop innovative approaches and enhance existing methods for ensuring the responsible use of anonymous healthcare information. In addition, the solutions will continue to be offered to Privacy Analytics and IMS Health clients as an independent suite of products.

“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,” said Jon Resnick, vice president and general manager, RWE Solutions, IMS Health. “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.”