Springer Science+Business purchases Current Medicine Group.

Springer Science+Business (New York) has acquired the Current Medicine Group (CMG; London/Philadelphia, PA), a publisher for the healthcare and medical markets. No terms of the deal were given. Over the past 12 months, CMG had sales of around $20.5 million.

CMG consists of four operating

units: Current Medicine Group Ltd. (London), which publishes books, pamphlets and manuals for primary care professionals, hospitals and physicians; Science Press Internet Services Ltd. (London), which creates and manages websites and produces educational content via its web portal, MedWire; Current Medicine LLC (Philadelphia, PA), which publishes atlases and manages an image library; and, Current Science, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA), which publishes medical review journals.

Current Science is comprised of two units. Current Reports produces a series of 15 bimonthly and four quarterly review journals for practicing specialists. Titles include "Current Allergy & Asthma Reports," "Current Infectious Disease Reports" and "Current Hematology Reports." The Current Treatment Options unit publishes five bimonthly journals designed to help physicians with information on new treatment options. Titles cover oncology, neurology, infectious disease, gastroenterology and cardiovascular medicine. An annual subscription for each of Current Science's 24 journals cost $95 for individuals, $389 for academic institutions and $778 for corporate institutions.

Springer ceo Derk Haank said that Springer's STM operations and CMG's publishing programs will not be integrated since they serve different markets. "In the coming months, we will look at the appropriate organizational structure to give us maximum benefit." The company said the purchase "links complementary businesses, strengthens Springer's existing position in the UK, and will provide Springer with a strong position in the US pharmaceutical publishing market, which is the world's largest and fastest-growing."