Complementary integration expands opportunities for clinical experts and life sciences companies to connect in support of better patient care

Healthcare network HCEsquared, the parent company of Dermsquared and CMEsquared, announced its acquisition of Interactive Forums, Inc. (IFI).

This acquisition broadens IFI’s capabilities to connect healthcare professionals and life sciences partners, and creates a more diversified, scalable platform for healthcare engagement under HCEsquared’s portfolio. Dermsquared reaches the dermatology community through in-person conferences and digital experiences, and CMEsquared provides accredited continuing medical education across formats and specialties. The addition of IFI brings advisory boards, consensus panels, and medical conference engagement services that connect life sciences companies with healthcare thought leaders.

IFI will continue to be led by its current leadership team as part of HCEsquared’s portfolio.

“Bringing IFI into our portfolio gives our partners broader access to expert communities while providing our vast network of clinical thought leaders with more opportunities to extend the reach and impact of their expertise,” said Lucia Stetson, Chief Operating Officer of HCEsquared. “This acquisition builds on what has always differentiated our brands: deep, trusted relationships with clinical experts. We look forward to working with IFI to broaden our medical education offerings and elevate patient care.”

“We see tremendous potential to create more pathways for clinical thought leaders to engage with industry, through advisory boards, curated one-on-one meetings, concierge-style connections, and other expert-led partnership opportunities,” said Ryan Daufenbach, President, IFI. “Partnering with HCEsquared enables the clinical community to have their expertise recognized, shape industry dialogue, and participate in engagements aligned with their areas of focus. It also strengthens our ability to connect life sciences companies with the right clinical experts in thoughtful, high-value ways.”

The acquisition was completed with the support of Knox Lane, a growth-oriented investment firm, that originally partnered with HCEsquared in May 2025.

About HCEsquared

HCEsquared is a healthcare network and engagement platform built around access to trusted clinical experts and thought leaders. Its portfolio includes Dermsquared, which engages the dermatology community through in-person and digital experiences and insights; CMEsquared, which provides accredited continuing medical education across specialties and formats; and Interactive Forums, a clinical expert engagement firm serving life sciences organizations through advisory boards, consensus panels, and conference engagement.

About Interactive Forums, Inc.

For more than 25 years, Interactive Forums, Inc. (IFI) has served as a strategic key opinion leader engagement firm for the life sciences industry, delivering advisory board meetings, consensus panels, and medical conference engagement services for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and consumer health companies.

About Knox Lane

Knox Lane is a growth-oriented investment firm based in San Francisco, comprised of a team of accomplished investors and operators with a strong track record of partnering with leading companies to accelerate growth. Knox Lane employs an investor-operator mindset and provides support across human capital, brand management, AI and digital transformation, sourcing, supply chain and logistics, strategic acquisitions, and business development. For more information, visit www.knoxlane.com.

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