BOSTON — INC Research Holdings Inc., a global phase I-IV contract research organization and inVentiv Health have successfully completed their merger. INC Research/inVentiv Health will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol INCR. The combined company will be known as INC Research/inVentiv Health on an interim basis until a relaunch under a new brand in 2018. 

NEW YORK — Astrsk PR, has announced the decision to allocate resources for pro bono work to support diversity and equal opportunity for female, LGBTQ and minority founded startups seeking high-impact visibility and representation. Those interesting in applying can find the application here and is aimed at startups hoping to take their business to the next level though strategic public relations over the coming year. The criteria to apply include being a startup with at least one female, LGBTQ or minority founder; the company must be in the early stages, with no more than $1.5m in funding; and it must be a consumer facing startup, no B2B startups allowed.

MONTREAL — Two privately held Canadian companies with established records in healthcare have announced what they're calling a fresh approach to helping healthcare organizations lead the way. Medius International has over 40 years experience delivering market insights through its specialized intelligence tool Psyhmentation. It offers a unique approach to identifying, developing and orchestrating the necessary elements required to help clients assume a position of elite leadership. Meanwhile, Energi PR is the Canadian affiliate of GlobalHealthPR, the world's largest partnership of independently owned healthcare communications agencies.