Profile: ICON Plc (ICLR.O)

ICON plc (ICON) is a contract research organization (CRO), providing outsourced development services on a global basis to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. The Company specializes in the development, management, and analysis of programs that support clinical development, from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company operated 71 locations in 38 countries providing Phase I-IV clinical trial management, drug development support services, data management and biostatistics, and central laboratory and imaging services. During 2008, ICON commenced operations in Edinburgh, Scotland; Bogota, Colombia, and New Dehli, India. On February 11, 2008, the Company acquired Healthcare Discoveries Inc. On November 14, 2008, ICON acquired Prevalere Life Sciences Inc. (Prevalere). On December 31, 2008, the Company acquired remaining 30% interest in Beacon Bioscience Inc. In April 2009, the Company acquired Qualia Clinical Services, a Phase I facility based in Omaha, Nebraska. In July 2009, ICON acquired Veeda Laboratories Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeda Clinical Research Group. Veeda Laboratories is a specialist provider of biomarker laboratory services to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The Company’s core clinical research business specializes in the planning, management, execution, and analysis of Phase I-IV clinical trials, ranging from small studies to multinational projects. Specific clinical research services offered include investigator recruitment, study monitoring and data collection, case report form (CRF) preparation, patient safety monitoring, clinical data management, interactive voice response (IVR), medical reporting, patient registries, outcomes research, health economics, strategic analysis and data operations, clinical pharmacology, bioanalysis, immunoassay development, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis, study protocol preparation, regulatory consulting, product development planning, strategic consulting, medical imaging, and contract staffing.

The Company competes with Covance Inc., United Health Group Incorporated, Kendle International Inc., MDS Inc., Omnicare Inc., PARAEXEL International Corporation, Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc., PharmaNet Development Group Inc., PRA International Inc., and Quintiles Transnational Corporation.