Privately held Durham, N.C.-based MercuryMD, which produces mobile computer technology for use by physicians to view patient information, will soon be purchased by Thomson Scientific & Healthcare based in Stamford, Conn., according to the Raleigh The News & Observer.

The transaction will combine MercuryMD's software with Thomson's medical reference capabilities. MerceryMD also will become an affiliate of Thomson Micromedex (a Thomson branch) which gives physicians access to research driven treatment information for use at hospitals.

This acquisition follows an announced partnership earlier this year between the two companies at HIMSS 2006 in San Diego. The plan then was to offer a joint solution, and that seems to have panned out so well that the two companies are making it permanent.
           
MercuryMD employs 77 people and earned about $10 million in revenue in 2005. Gigantic in comparison, Thomson Scientific & Healthcare employs nearly  4,700 people and reported about $1 billion last year, with about  $500 million coming from the healthcare sector. Thomson has plans to invest heavily in MercuryMD which is expected to remain headquartered in Durham with its executive team in place, The News & Observer reports.

Other details about the acquisition have not as yet been disclosed.