Four Communications strengthens healthcare group with acquisition of Packer Forbes

Four Communications Group today (5 July 2016) announced the acquisition of independent healthcare comms consultancy Packer Forbes.

Packer Forbes provides PR, medical education, digital patient advocacy and access communications to blue chip pharmaceutical clients, including Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences and Novo Nordisk.

Packer Forbes will rebrand as Four Health Communications, and will sit within a new, international healthcare group.

Alexa Forbes, chief executive of Packer Forbes, said: “I am really excited by the challenge of establishing and evolving the integrated Four Health offering. Working alongside fellow experts from across the healthcare communications spectrum will be professionally stimulating for the whole team and I genuinely believe we will be able to offer a truly unique service for our clients.”

Forbes will work closely with Emma Statham, MD at Four MSA, to grow the Four Health service.

Four Health also includes Four MSA, a specialist healthcare media planning and buying agency acquired in 2015. The Packer Forbes acquisition is the fourth since Four secured a £10 million investment of equity finance from the Business Growth Fund, a provider of growth capital to mid-sized businesses, in 2015.

In 2015, Four also acquired MSA Media, Broadgate Mainland and Welsh integrated agency FBA. It states that there are further acquisitions planned for later in the year.