McCann Healthcare to strengthen Japan content through acquisition

The new entity, MDS-CMG, will be run by MDS president Kazuko Oneda, who will report to Amar Urhekar, president of Japan and EVP Asia-Pacific at McCann Healthcare.

MDS was part of CMIC Holdings, which consists of 17 companies that together offer comprehensive services related to all the processes of a pharmaceuticals company, from research and development to manufacturing and sales.

Urhekar said the joining of the two companies would synergise MDS' skills in medical journaling with MHWWJ's expertise in engagement programme and account management.

“MDS was one of MHWWJ’s strongest competitors in the past. They have 40 medical writers and this merger will make us a more complete agency in the healthcare industry,” he told Campaign Asia-Pacific.

He added that the new entity could also help Japanese clients to go global, drawing on the network of McCann Healthcare Worldwide. MHWWJ has been looking to bring transformation to healthcare communications in Japan, as the country is still the main market for the network’s healthcare division. Urhekar added that McCann Healthcare Worldwide was looking to expand in other regional markets, but not necessarily through acquisitions.

Commenting on the merger, John Cahill, global CEO of McCann Healthcare Worldwide, noted that the merger was the beginning of a new era of cooperation between CMIC and MHWW.

“Like McCann Healthcare, CMIC brings an integrated portfolio of solutions to its clients across their products’ lifecycles. The possibilities for future partnerships and collaboration between McCann Healthcare and CMIC are endless,” he said.