Thomas H. Lee Partners yesterday said it agreed to buy publicly traded InVentiv Health for $1.1 billion, or $26 a share, beating out several private-equity firms that had been in the hunt for the company that handles sales, marketing and patient support for pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson.

On March 26, The Post reported that New Jersey-based InVentiv was seeking a buyer and that several private-equity firms were interested in the company.

The Post on Wednesday reported that THL, BC Partners, Genstar Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe were expected to submit bids for the company.

Shares in InVentiv closed yesterday at $23.92. THL’s purchase includes committed financing from Citigroup.

The deal is the latest in a string of leveraged buyouts to take place over the past six months as money-market investors divert some of their money into high-yield funds. However, the recent market sell-off might cut into that trend, experts said.