Seven staff move across from Maritz to join Market Probe as part of the deal, which expands the agency’s client base into traditional pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic equipment makers. It already works with health insurance and prescription management services providers.

Market Probe chief executive TR Rao said the acquisition made healthcare “a major practice area” for the agency in the US. He said additional acquisitions were “already in the works”, while a spokesman highlighted plans to recruit further staff to grow the healthcare business internationally.

The agency made its first foray into the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector in 2006 with the acquisition of the Rowin Group.