Double Helix, a healthcare consultancy that operates across three continents, was bought by Interpublic Group’s McCann Health, the network said Monday. Terms were not disclosed.

The formerly independent firm offers primary market research and market access consulting for clients. In an e-mail to MM&M, John Cahill, CEO of McCann Health, said those were two areas “that have increased in importance worldwide and have a unique strategic fit to the brand management platform we are building our offer on.”

While “nascent forms of these services” had existed within McCann Health, Cahill wrote, “we wanted to boost dramatically our global capabilities in these areas.”

The network has already begun integrating the consultancy, and the status of naming and branding is being reviewed, according to Cahill. Reporting to him will be Dr. Wayne Phillips, who founded the firm and will continue to run Double Helix as CEO.

McCann Health announced its own rebranding, from McCann Healthcare Worldwide to McCann Health, earlier this month. Five of its six US agencies also rebranded to align more closely with the network.

Headquartered in London, Double Helix also has offices in the US (New York and Philadelphia) and Singapore. Services span all key markets worldwide, as well as local UK, US and APAC domestic markets, the firm says.

Added Cahill, “We see clearly a changing commercial model in Pharma, the development of new health interventions based around nutrition and devices as well as new concepts in payers and value based interventions. We are pioneering this new model with services our clients will need.”

Asked whether the network may seek to bolster its offering through further acquisitions, Cahill responded, “We are quietly aggressive and yes we have other acquisitions underway in emerging markets and established markets. All are being done according to a well thought out strategic plan, building competences for a new Health future where communications and therefore companies like [McCann Health] will play an increasingly important role in health and health brands success with connections across Govts, industry, medical community and consumers.”