Dublin, Ireland, January 21st 2008 – ICON Plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that its Development Solutions division has signed a collaboration agreement with the UK based Medicines Evaluation Unit (MEU).
ICON has over 27 years experience in early phase clinical research and has conducted over 880 phase I studies within its 80 bed, clinical research unit in Manchester over the past 10 years. The MEU specialises in performing clinical trials (phase I through to phase IV) in respiratory / inflammatory medicine and related areas. The agreement will enable ICON to perform early phase studies in a hospital based environment that has access to specialist equipment and ITU services and will enhance ICON’s respiratory capabilities.
The MEU was established in 1994 and operates out of an 18 bed state of the art Clinical Research Facility, which was purpose built on the Wythenshawe NHS Hospital site in Manchester, UK. The Unit is fully GCP accredited and has conducted over 150 studies over the past 13 years, predominantly in the Respiratory field.
Commenting on the agreement Thomas Frey, President of ICON Development Solutions, said. ”We are delighted to have signed this agreement with the MEU which gives us access to first class staff and facilities. The unit has an outstanding reputation for performing high quality clinical research and its hospital location will give IDS enhanced capabilities to run first-in-man studies.”
David Rogers, Director of Operations of MEU added “This partnership will allow the MEU to offer a full clinical trial portfolio to clients from first-in-man to later phase studies whilst still maintaining our core Respiratory expertise. “
About ICON Development Solutions
With expertise in clinical pharmacology, regulatory affairs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacometrics, biopharmaceutics and bioanalytical, ICON Development Solutions specialises in the strategy, management and execution of product development and early phase clinical development. ICON Development Solutions has conducted over 1000 clinical studies and has designed the product development plans for over 50 products. For more information visit www.icondevsolutions.com
About ICON
ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specializes in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON teams have successfully conducted over 1,900 development projects and over 2,300 consultancy engagements across all major therapeutic areas. ICON currently has approximately 5,600 employees, operating from 67 locations in 35 countries. Further information is available at www.iconplc.com