Syneos Health Communications

What Syneos Health Communications does

Syneos Health Communications is a healthcare communications agency network serving pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and health and wellness clients through a purpose-built portfolio of more than 14 specialized sub-brands. The company delivers integrated services spanning healthcare advertising, public relations, medical communications, market access, behavioral science-driven campaign development, and corporate affairs. Its primary end customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies, with secondary audiences including healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers, payers, and policymakers. Pricing is enterprise B2B, structured through custom proposals, project-based fees, and retainers; specific fees are not publicly disclosed.

The company's technological core is a proprietary "Predictive Storytelling" methodology anchored on two behavioral intelligence platforms: the Empathy Engine (a consumer data hub built on behavioral science and emotional insights, covering 3,500+ individuals across 175 diagnosed conditions and structured around 24 proprietary psychological factors) and the Mindset Engine (an HCP-focused behavioral intelligence platform supporting Predictive Positioning, Precision Profiling, Predictive Influence, Resonance Read, Content Sync, and Uptake Modeling). Supporting capabilities include Scenario Lab for AI-powered market simulation and an Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) service line — Pulse Check, Scorecard, and Optimization Blueprint — designed to help brands appear as cited references in AI-generated answers from ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity.

Syneos Health Communications is a subsidiary of Syneos Health (NASDAQ: SYNH) and operates 13 offices across nine countries spanning North America, Europe, South America, and Asia Pacific. The company employs 501-1,000 staff and runs a Graduate Training Program and Employee Resource Groups to support talent development. The agency portfolio includes GSW, Chandler Chicco Agency, Biosector2, Chamberlain, Cadent, Litmus Medical Communications, Genicos, Spherico (a division of GSW), Addison Whitney, BoldSky, Evolvics, AnswerSuite, and a Corporate Affairs practice.

Name

Syneos Health Communications

Legal name

Syneos Health Communications

Website

https://syneoshealthcommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Syneos Health Communications is a global healthcare communications agency network serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and health and wellness clients with integrated advertising, PR, medical communications, market access, and behavioral science-driven services across 13 offices in 9 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Communications

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare/Pharma Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Life Sciences PR (BPAFADAJ), Healthcare & Life Sciences PR (MPAAADAD)

Keywords

• Healthcare communications
• Pharmaceutical marketing
• Behavioral intelligence platforms
• Medical communications
• Market access solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Morrisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Communications Services: Syneos Health Communications generates revenue through professional services engagements with pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare organizations. Services include strategic communications consulting, creative advertising, public relations, medical communications, market access solutions, and behavioral science-driven campaign development. Revenue is derived from project-based fees, retainer engagements, and strategic consulting arrangements with healthcare industry clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Syneos Health Communications provides integrated healthcare communications services for pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and health and wellness organizations. Core offerings include strategic communications consulting, creative advertising, public relations, medical communications, market access solutions, brand strategy, and behavioral science-driven campaign development powered by proprietary platforms (Empathy Engine and Mindset Engine). Services are delivered through an integrated portfolio of 14 specialized sub-brand agencies spanning advertising, PR, creative production, medical communications, market access, brand design, data insights, and omnichannel media.

Product overview

Syneos Health Communications is a purpose-built portfolio of health-first agencies offering an integrated ecosystem of behavioral science, data analytics, and storytelling solutions. The core offering centers on Predictive Storytelling powered by two behavioral intelligence platforms: the Empathy Engine (consumer-focused) and Mindset Engine (HCP-focused), along with Scenario Lab for AI-powered market simulation. Supporting these are Answer Engine Optimization services (AEO Pulse Check, SEO/AEO Scorecard, Optimization Blueprint) for AI-era visibility. The portfolio includes 14 specialized agency sub-brands spanning advertising (GSW, Genicos), creative studios (BoldSky), medical communications (Cadent, Litmus), public relations (Chandler Chicco, Biosector2, Chamberlain), market access (Spherico), brand strategy (Addison Whitney), data insights (AnswerSuite), corporate affairs, and omnichannel media (Evolvics). This multi-brand structure enables integrated strategies across the healthcare communications spectrum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Predictive Storytelling: A proprietary approach powered by human-centered data and behavioral insights that guides brands toward specific outcomes by understanding behavioral drivers.
• Mindset Engine
• Empathy Engine

Products and services

• Empathy Engine Proprietary consumer data hub using behavioral science and emotional insights to help healthcare brands improve audience engagement. Analyzes data from over 3,500 individuals across 175 diagnosed conditions and leverages 24 proprietary psychological factors to identify emotional drivers behind health decisions. Launched June 2025.
• Mindset Engine Dedicated behavioral intelligence platform providing insights into how healthcare professionals think, decide, and act. Used for Predictive Positioning, Precision Profiling, and Predictive Influence analysis.
• Predictive Storytelling Proprietary methodology powered by human-centered data and behavioral insights that blends behavioral science and purpose-built AI to craft strategic stories influencing how people think and act, supporting smarter, more strategic decision-making for healthcare brands.
• Scenario Lab AI-powered simulation combining competitive intelligence, near-time market signals, cultural cues, conversation, and proprietary behavioral data to forecast how future scenarios may unfold and where healthcare brands should move first.
• AEO Pulse Check Service providing a report on whether a company or brand is appearing as a cited reference in AI-generated answers from multiple platforms, establishing a competitive intelligence baseline for Answer Engine Optimization.
• SEO/AEO Scorecard Technical assessment of digital properties from SEO and Answer Engine Optimization perspectives, measuring 30+ data inputs across owned, earned, and social media to identify how content is structured, tagged, and positioned for AI discoverability.
• Optimization Blueprint Implementation service applying technical foundations, authority-building content updates, and earned/social media plans to strengthen search and AI visibility, optimize site structure, and build assets that answer the right questions for AI citation.
• GSW Full-service healthcare communications agency providing strategic, creative, and omnichannel solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and health and wellness clients.
• BoldSky Agency Full-service creative studio delivering creative execution, content production, and digital implementation at scale for top healthcare companies globally.
• Chandler Chicco Agency (CCA) Award-winning healthcare communications agency specializing in patient, provider, and advocacy engagement, digital influence and strategy, and corporate reputation, pioneering campaigns led by patient communities.
• Biosector 2 Global PR agency building brands and growing markets for companies driving innovation, helping clients harness their science and connect it to societal priorities for cultural relevance.
• Cadent US-based medical communications agency specializing in high-science, high-touch, peer-to-peer medical communications and translating complex science into compelling messages that deliver value and action.
• Chamberlain Global PR agency delivering powerful communications solutions for organizations committed to the pursuit of health, translating science into meaningful stories that inspire action.
• Evolvics Innovative omnichannel healthcare media agency specializing in predictive media strategies, comprehensive planning, and targeted buying, empowering biopharmaceutical leaders to de-risk decision-making through qualitative and quantitative insights.
• Addison Whitney Global brand design firm specializing in naming, research, and brand strategy to create brands that rise above marketplace noise and find sustainable differentiation.
• Genicos Agency Nimble, high-science specialty agency adept at translating science and data to create differentiated brands and patient experiences, specializing in bringing emerging, innovative therapies to market.
• Spherico (division of GSW) Market access agency providing comprehensive solutions that navigate the shifting market landscape, creating belief-changing stories that motivate population health decision-makers.
• Litmus Medical Communications EU-based medical communications agency building relationships and collaboration between the biopharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals, catalyzing uptake and embedding therapy value across the product lifecycle.
• AnswerSuite Insights platform providing pharmaceutical syndicated data and custom insights with actionable market reports for biopharmaceutical industry leaders.
• Corporate Affairs Service Corporate reputation experts specializing in corporate communications, reputation and risk management, financial communications, media relations, executive visibility, scientific storytelling, social impact, DEI, policy, and employee engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 56% of people with Type 1 diabetes experience high cognitive dissonance (knowing what to do but struggling to do it)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature12 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WPP (Ogilvy Health / VMLY&R Health): Global advertising holding company with large dedicated healthcare communications networks (Ogilvy Health, VMLY&R Health). Directly competes for the same pharma/biotech AOR work as Syneos Health Communications but operates at much greater scale with broader non-healthcare capabilities.
• Omnicom Health Group: Healthcare-dedicated network within Omnicom Group (CDM, DDB Health, TBWA\WorldHealth, etc.). Competes head-to-head with Syneos Health Communications for global pharma communications mandates and benefits from Omnicom's media buying scale.
• Publicis Health: Publicis Groupe's healthcare communications arm including Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, Digitas Health, and Publicis LifeBrands. Directly comparable in service mix — advertising, medical communications, PR, and digital — and competes for top-20 pharma accounts.
• IPG Health: Interpublic Group's healthcare-focused network (FCB Health, McCann Health, Area 23, etc.). One of the largest healthcare communications networks globally, offering similar integrated services to pharma/biotech clients and competing directly for global AOR mandates.
• Havas Health & You: Havas' global health and wellness network spanning creative, medical, and digital communications. Comparable offering structure and pharma/biotech client base to Syneos Health Communications, though smaller than the top-three holding companies.
• Syneos Health (parent) — Commercial Solutions: Parent organization whose broader Clinical and Commercial Solutions businesses share clients with the Communications unit. While the parent itself is a CRO/clinical services provider rather than a peer agency, its commercial deployment and patient solutions arms compete for adjacent pharma commercialization budgets.

Direct peers

• Real Chemistry: Independent healthcare communications and data-driven marketing agency serving pharma and biotech. Directly comparable as a healthcare-specialized agency with proprietary data/AI capabilities and integrated PR, advertising, and medical communications offerings.
• Fishawack Health: Independent medical communications and commercialization agency for biopharma. Directly overlaps with Syneos Health Communications' medical communications and market access services (Cadent, Litmus, Spherico). Acquired by Bridgepoint/then Permira, illustrating the private-equity appetite in this category.
• Evoke (Huntsworth / TPG): Healthcare communications and advisory platform owned by TPG. Direct competitor in pharma PR, medical communications, and brand strategy — closely comparable to the Chandler Chicco, Biosector2, and Chamberlain sub-brands within Syneos Health Communications.

Emerging players

• MedThink Communications: Independent healthcare communications agency focused on medical affairs, brand communications, and patient engagement. Smaller and more focused than Syneos Health Communications but directly comparable in offering scope for mid-cap pharma clients.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/syneoshealthcommunications
• Instagraminstagram.com/syneoshealthcommunications
• Xx.com/SyneosComms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Syneos Health Communications