Key Stats
- Founded: 2016 through merger of Quintiles and IMS Health
- 2024 Revenue: $15.41 billion (2.81% year-over-year growth)
- 2024 Employees: 88,000 across 100+ countries
- Market Cap: Approximately $41 billion (January 2026)
- Fortune 500 Rank: #282 (2024)
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences and healthcare industries. The company is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with additional headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut.
IQVIA operates through three business segments: Technology and Analytics Solutions (40% of revenue), Research and Development Solutions (55% of revenue), and Contract Sales and Medical Solutions (5% of revenue). The company has access to 1.2 billion unique non-identified patient records globally, making it one of the largest healthcare data providers in the world.
IQVIA Holdings History
IQVIA Holdings Co-founders
IQVIA Holdings Competitors
IQVIA operates in a competitive landscape of contract research organizations and healthcare data companies. The CRO services market is expected to reach $125 billion by 2030.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Services |
|---|---|---|
| ICON plc | Dublin, Ireland | Clinical development, CRO services |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific (PPD) | Waltham, MA | Clinical research, laboratory services |
| Parexel International | Raleigh, NC | Clinical trials, regulatory consulting |
| Syneos Health | Morrisville, NC | Biopharmaceutical solutions |
| Charles River Laboratories | Wilmington, MA | Preclinical services, drug discovery |
| Labcorp Drug Development | Burlington, NC | Clinical laboratory, drug development |
| Medpace | Cincinnati, OH | Clinical development services |
| WuXi AppTec | Shanghai, China | Drug discovery, development services |
| Medidata Solutions | New York, NY | Clinical trial software, data analytics |
| Pharmaron | Beijing, China | R&D services, clinical development |
IQVIA Holdings Revenue
IQVIA generated $15.41 billion in revenue during 2024, reflecting steady growth in its clinical research and technology analytics divisions. The company has increased annual revenue consistently since its 2016 formation.
IQVIA Holdings Market Cap
IQVIA’s market capitalization stood at approximately $41 billion as of January 2026. The company trades on the NYSE under ticker symbol IQV and has grown its valuation significantly since its 2013 IPO as Quintiles.
IQVIA Holdings Acquisitions
IQVIA has completed over 20 acquisitions since its formation, targeting companies that strengthen its data analytics, clinical research, and healthcare technology capabilities. The company’s acquisition strategy has focused on expanding its reach across the United States and United Kingdom.
The largest acquisition in IQVIA’s history was the 2016 merger between Quintiles and IMS Health, valued at $8.8 billion. This deal combined Quintiles’ clinical research expertise with IMS Health’s healthcare data and analytics platform, creating the largest company in the contract research industry. The merger gave IQVIA access to pharmaceutical sales data, prescribing trends, and patient records from healthcare systems worldwide.
In 2018, IQVIA made three acquisitions, its most active year for M&A. The company acquired Linguamatics in 2019, adding natural language processing capabilities to extract insights from unstructured medical text. The company also acquired companies specializing in patient recruitment, real-world evidence, and clinical trial technology.
IQVIA’s acquisition of Clintec in 2018 strengthened its oncology and rare disease clinical trial capabilities. The company continued expanding through deals with healthcare technology firms that enhance its artificial intelligence and machine learning platforms for drug development.
In 2023, IQVIA attempted to acquire Propel Media, a healthcare advertising company, but abandoned the deal in January 2024 after the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the merger. The FTC argued the acquisition would give IQVIA excessive market power in healthcare programmatic advertising.
FAQs
What does IQVIA stand for?
IQVIA combines letters from its legacy companies: I (IMS Health), Q (Quintiles), and VIA (Latin for “by way of”), representing the merged entity formed in 2016.
When was IQVIA founded?
IQVIA was formed in 2016 through the merger of Quintiles (founded 1982) and IMS Health (founded 1998). The company adopted the IQVIA name in November 2017.
Where is IQVIA headquartered?
IQVIA has dual headquarters in Durham, North Carolina and Danbury, Connecticut. The company operates in over 100 countries worldwide.
How many employees does IQVIA have?
IQVIA employs approximately 88,000 people globally as of 2024, including experts in clinical research, data science, technology, and healthcare operations.
What services does IQVIA provide?
IQVIA provides clinical trial management, healthcare analytics, real-world evidence generation, technology solutions, and contract sales services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

