- SCIRIS is a leading medical communications and market access platform, serving top-tier pharma clients including AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Ascendis Pharma;
- Backed by Waterland Private Equity, SCIRIS operates across the UK and US, with a proven track record of growth and profitability;
- The funding will enhance liquidity and support SCIRIS’ organic expansion, as the business continues to benefit from strong sector tailwinds and growing demand for outsourced pharmaceutical services;
- OakNorth continues to expand its support for UK/US businesses having announced the acquisition of Community Unity Bank in Michigan in March 2025 (pending regulatory approval).
OakNorth – the leading for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs – has provided a £5m financing facility to SCIRIS Group (“SCIRIS”), a London-headquartered medical communications and market access platform backed by Waterland Private Equity. The capital from OakNorth will enable SCIRIS to strengthen its liquidity, streamline working capital management, and position the group for further organic expansion.
Founded through the acquisition of seven specialist agencies, SCIRIS delivers high-value medical communications, health economics, and market access services to global pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Employing more than 300 people across the UK and US, SCIRIS supports its clients with all phases of brand development, including: brand strategy, medical compliance, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consultancy, and insights. SCIRIS operates in a high-growth sector, with the global medical communications and market access markets projected to grow to a combined £13.3bn by 2028. Its clients include blue-chip brands such as AstraZeneca, Bayer, Corium, and Ascendis Pharma. The business is majority-owned by Waterland Private Equity, a top-tier pan-European sponsor with €14bn in committed capital and an impressive track record of value creation.
Dan Spacie, CEO of SCIRIS Group, commented: “Our ethos enables each of our agencies to preserve their individual culture and identity while being part of an exciting and evolving group, culminating in a unique balance of independent thinking and impactful collaboration. With this capital from OakNorth, we can continue delivering high-quality, science-driven communications for our clients around the world. It’s been a real pleasure working with a team that is both commercially astute and genuinely collaborative. OakNorth has a reputation for backing innovative, high-growth businesses, so receiving this funding from them is a clear demonstration of SCIRIS’ strong business model and ambitious growth plans.”
Stewart Haworth, Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth, added:“The outsourced pharmaceutical services industry continues to grow, driven by increased regulatory complexity, a surge in drug development pipelines, and an expanding demand for specialist medical and market access expertise. SCIRIS is a highly credible and well-positioned player in this growing space – with a strong leadership team, deep sectoral expertise, and a focused growth strategy, the business is on a clear upward trajectory. We’re excited to support the team and Waterland on their journey.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Launched in September 2015 and founded by entrepreneurs, OakNorth is a digital bank focused on serving and empowering the lower mid-market (businesses with £1m-£100m in turnover), that are seeking to scale but are routinely underserved or overlooked by traditional banks.
To date, it has provided c.£12.5bn to these businesses across a wide range of sectors, achieving performance metrics that place it amongst the top 1% of commercial banks globally. Its loans have directly contributed to the creation of 56,000 jobs, and over 34,000 new homes across the UK and the US – the majority of which are affordable and social housing.
It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Visit www.oaknorth.co.uk for more information.
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