SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two of the most respected market research sample providers in the industry, Epocrates, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPOC) and M3 Inc. (TYO:2413), today announced a partnership to create the world's largest verified physician and healthcare provider panel. By combining their high-quality, opted-in physician panels, the companies can now offer a global market research sampling solution.
The partnership offers research firms, pharmaceutical marketers and investors greater access to qualified physicians and other healthcare professionals. The new unified panel covers more than 70 countries with more than 1.7 million physicians globally, providing more accurate targeting and sample specificity. The top ten medical specialties worldwide are highly represented, including oncology, cardiology and family practice.
The Epocrates market research panel is comprised of verified U.S. physicians and other healthcare professionals who use the company's mobile clinical reference application, creating stronger engagement and higher responsiveness. It is recognized industry-wide for its honesty and sample representation, providing clients the ability to recruit respondents based on specialty, years in practice, geography and other demographic variables.
"An audit within the industry revealed that M3 has the same quality assurance and values that we uphold for our research business," said Peter Brandt, interim president and chief executive officer of Epocrates. "Together, we are elevating the integrity and delivery standards across the research industry."
M3 Inc. operates globally with physician communities across the world including m3.com, MDLinx.com, Doctors.net.uk, Medquarter.de and Medigate.net. This enabled the development of a proprietary healthcare professional panel with international diversity and extensive reach. M3 is a founding member of the Trust Alliance, recently introduced to promote trust in online physician research.
"Both companies have established deep relationships with panel members, providing faster turnaround and more quality responders all over the world," said Aki Tomaru M3's U.S. CEO. "The goal of this partnership is to create some of the best healthcare market research coverage globally, featuring more consistent and comprehensive solutions for the industry."
About Epocrates, Inc.
Epocrates, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPOC) is a leading physician platform for essential clinical content, practice tools and health industry engagement at the point of care. The Epocrates network consists of more than 1.4 million healthcare professionals, including 50 percent of U.S. physicians, who routinely use its solutions and services. Epocrates' portfolio includes top-ranked medical apps, such as the industry's #1 most used mobile drug reference, valuable manufacturer resources, and a SaaS web-based electronic health record. Through these intuitive and reliable resources, the company supports clinical decisions, helps improve physician workflow and impacts patient outcomes. For more information, please visit www.epocrates.com/company.
The Epocrates, Inc. and M3 logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11331
About M3 Inc.
M3 Global Research is the market research division of Tokyo-based M3 Inc. (TYO:2413) operating globally with a proprietary healthcare professionals panel of 1.3 million respondents in more than 60 countries. The division was created by uniting the worldwide healthcare panels of M3 companies and exclusive partners across the USA, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. M3 Global Research offers a broad range of capabilities including quantitative, qualitative utilizing call centers and in-country project managers. M3 has provided solutions for every top 20 pharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit http://research.m3.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause Epocrates' actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by Epocrates' forward-looking statements. For Epocrates, particular uncertainties and risks include, among others: unexpected delays in Epocrates delivering new products may occur, which would cause revenues not to be as Epocrates expects; market acceptance of new products, and new partnerships such as the one described above with M3 Inc., may not be as Epocrates expects, which would cause revenues not to be as Epocrates expects; and the impact of competitive products and pricing may decrease demand for Epocrates' products and/or force Epocrates to decrease the price of its products. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect Epocrates' actual results are described in Epocrates' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011. Except as required by law, Epocrates undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements.