Roche has announced the acquisition of Flatiron Health in a deal worth $1.9 billion. 

Flatiron is a healthcare technology and services company focused on accelerating cancer research and improving patient care. They develop oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) systems, most notably an information exchange platform which allows researchers to access and learn from patient records. The company’s message is that large amounts of data could be used to speed up and, in some cases, replace certain clinical trials where patients are randomly assigned to a specific treatment.

Under the deal, Flatiron Health will continue to operate as a separate entity. Roche will acquire all outstanding shares of Flatiron beyond their previous minority stake of 12.6 percent. The companies say that the agreement will not impact the security and protection of patient information.
 

“This is an important step in our personalized healthcare strategy for Roche, as we believe that regulatory-grade real-world evidence is a key ingredient to accelerate the development of, and access to, new cancer treatments,” said Dan O’Day, the chief executive of Roche’s pharmaceutical division. “As a leading technology company in oncology, Flatiron Health is best positioned to provide the technology and data analytics infrastructure needed not only for Roche but for oncology research and development efforts across the entire industry.”

Previously, Roche led a Series C funding round for Flatiron in 2016.