Cerner Corp. plans to acquire Kantar Health, a data, analytics and research consultancy serving the life science industry, for $375 million in cash.

A division of Kantar Group, Kantar Health includes hundreds of associates with data analytics expertise as well as real-world data assets. Cerner hopes to gain “meaningful entry to the pharmaceutical market through Kantar Health’s client relationships and their strong leadership team with important industry experience and relationships,” Christy Dueck, vice president of Data as a Service, Cerner, said in an email.

Through the acquisition, Cerner will offer its Learning Health Network clients direct engagement with the life sciences industry for funded research studies, she said. The Cerner Learning Health Network offers member health systems free access to a network of standardized, de-identified data and resources to support research efforts.

In addition, the acquisition will provide Cerner clients access to Kantar’s team of clinicians and researchers who can help them derive insights from data assets like EHRs, claims as well as from its own proprietary data assets that are focused on rare diseases, oncology and patient-reported outcomes, Dueck said.

“Cerner believes there is a unique opportunity centered between providers, real-world clinical data and life sciences where clinical trials and good medical research can be more accessible to patients while significantly decreasing the cost of drug discovery,” she added.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2021, and it is subject to regulatory approval, employee consultations and other conditions. It is not expected to have a material impact on Cerner’s earnings next year.

“There is a strong cultural fit between the two organizations, grounded by our shared vision to increase access and affordability for patients around the world,” said Lynnette Cooke, CEO of Kantar Health, according to a press release. “We expect the combination of our expertise and assets with Cerner’s technology and unique insights into patients will enable a step-change in the way healthcare is developed and delivered, resulting in improved patient outcomes.”

The acquisition of Kantar Health comes about a week after Cerner announced an investment in Elligo Health Research, an integrated research organization that enables clinical trials with community-based healthcare practices. Cerner plans to enter into a commercial agreement with Elligo to offer additional clinical trial resources to providers in the Cerner Learning Health Network.

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