IMS Health acquires Semantelli Corp.

DANBURY, Conn. — Healthcare analytics firm IMS Health has acquired social media analytics company Semantelli Corp., saying the purchase would allow it to provide real-time monitoring and delivery of insights into consumer and physician behavior and sentiments.

Semantelli, based in Bridgewater, N.J., uses cloud computing-based systems that automate the collection of healthcare-specific social media content, which IMS said would allow for real-time monitoring of reputation and opportunity management, using medical taxonomies and algorithms and natural language recognition. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

IMS said Semantelli would become part of its suite of social media products that support healthcare organizations in the areas of market assessment, competitive intelligence, brand performance, risk management and engagement between consumers and healthcare professionals.

"This acquisition marks an important step in expanding IMS's capabilities in the social media management and analytics space, where there is accelerating demand for solutions that help clients take advantage of new channels to connect more actively with healthcare professionals and consumers," IMS SVP strategy and global pharmaceutical solutions Stefan Linn said. "Social media has become an integral part of the healthcare experience, and navigating this channel effectively to unlock the right information for making decisions is critical."