ICON PLC explained

See also: Icon (disambiguation).

ICON plc
Type:	Public
Traded As:	NASDAQ:
Predecessors:	-->
Successors:	-->
Founded:	in Dublin, Ireland
Areas Served:	-->
Key People:	Steve Cutler (CEO)
Products:	Services for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries
Owners:	-->
Revenue:	(2022)^[1]
Num Employees:	41,160 (2023)
Website:	www.iconplc.com

ICON plc is an Irish headquartered Nasdaq listed multinational healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation that provides consulting, clinical development and commercialisation services for the pharmaceutical industry.^[2], ICON had approximately 41,160 employees in 108 locations spread across 53 countries.^[1]

History

ICON was founded in Dublin, Ireland, by John Climax and Ronan Lambe in 1990.^[3] Since January 2010, Climax has held a position on the board of directors. Lambe retired from the board of directors in 2018.^[4]

Between 1991 and 1996, ICON opened offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and Japan.^[5] Two years later, ICON shares started to be traded on Nasdaq.^[6]

In 2013, PRA Health Sciences was acquired by KKR, which listed the company on the Nasdaq in November 2014 and maintained shares until September 2019.^[7] In August 2017, the company acquired Conshohocken-based real-world healthcare data, analytics, and technology solutions company Symphony Health for US$530 million.^[8] PRA's 2018 revenue was US$2.87 billion.^[9] PRA was acquired by ICON on 1 July 2021.^[10]

In March 2017, Steve Cutler was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ICON.^[11] He had previously been with Quintiles South Africa, Sandoz AG, and Kendle Intl Inc, before joining ICON Clinical Research Services in 2011, and becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2014.^[12]

In 2018, ICON won PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year.^[13] ICON enjoyed success in multiple categories at the Clinical Research Organisation leadership awards,^[14] consecutively from 2018 - 2023, determined by Life Science Leader magazine and Industry Standard Research (ISR). In 2021, ICON was awarded PharmaTimes Clinical Research Company of the Year,^[15] and in 2022, won Best Contract Research Organisation (FSP) ^[16] at the Scrip Awards.

Acquisitions

• 2000: ICON acquired UK-based regulatory consultancy, YRCR Ltd.; Central Laboratory in New York; and bioanalytical consultancy, Pacific Research^{[17] [18] [19]}
• 2002: ICON acquired clinical research provider, BPA.^[20]
• 2003: ICON acquired Medeval, a UK-based Phase I facility, and US consulting firm, Globomax ^{[21] [22]}
• 2004: ICON acquired medical imaging specialist, Beacon Bioscience Inc.^[23]
• 2006: ICON acquired outcomes research and health economics specialist, Ovation Research Group^[24]
• 2007: ICON acquired European staffing group, DOCS International^[25]
• 2008: ICON acquired US phase I provider, Healthcare Discoveries and US bioanalytical lab, Prevalere Life Sciences^{[26] [27]}
• 2009: ICON acquired Veeda Laboratories, a UK biomarker lab^[28]
• 2010: ICON acquired Timaq Medical Imaging Inc.^[29]
• 2011: ICON acquired Oxford Outcomes, an international health outcomes consultancy and Firecrest Clinical, a technology provider specialising in site performance and study management^{[30] [31]}
• 2012: ICON acquired PriceSpective, a global value strategy consultancy and Chinese CRO, BeijingWits^{[32] [33]}
• 2013: ICON acquired staffing and FSP providers, ClinForce and Assent and Akos, an EU provider of pharmacovigilance and drug safety services^{[34] [35]}
• 2014: ICON acquired Aptiv Solutions, a market leader in adaptive trial design and execution^[36]
• 2015: ICON acquired MediMedia Pharma Solutions to enhance market access and scientific communications capabilities, and PMG Research Inc., an integrated network of clinical research sites in the US^{[37] [38]}
• 2016: ICON acquired Clinical Research Management Inc., to extend its presence in the government-sponsored research market^[39]
• 2017: ICON acquired MAPI Group, thereby becoming the world’s second-largest provider of late-phase services^[40]
• 2019: ICON acquired Symphony Clinical Research, a leading provider of at-home patient services and site-support services; MediNova, an integrated network of clinical research sites across EMEA; and MolecularMD, to enhance its laboratory offerings in molecular diagnostic testing and immunohistochemistry^{[41] [42] [43]}
• 2020: ICON acquired MedPass International, a leading European medical device CRO, regulatory and reimbursement consultancy^[44]
• 2021: ICON acquired PRA Health Sciences, a competitor offering clinical research services, for USD 12 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, PRA shareholders will own approximately 34 percent of the shares of the combined company and ICON shareholders will own approximately 66 percent.^{[45] [46]}

See also

• List of companies of Ireland

Notes and References

1. Web site: Facts and figures. 2021-11-21. ICON plc. en.
2. Web site: 2021-02-24. ICON to Acquire PRA Health Sciences, Creating a World Leader in Healthcare Intelligence and Clinical Research. 2021-07-01. www.businesswire.com. en.
3. News: Icon founders poised to make $45m in share placing . 8 December 2019 . Irish Times. 24 July 2003.
4. Web site: 2023 . Board of Directors . 2023-11-01 . Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. . en.
5. News: Langan . Sheila . ICON of Ireland . 8 December 2019 . Irish America . 1 October 2014.
6. News: ICON plc : ICON Announces the Commencement of Direct Trading on NASDAQ . 8 December 2019 . Market Screener . 5 February 2013.
7. News: PRA Health Sciences Announces Secondary Offering and Concurrent Share Repurchase . Globenewswire . September 3, 2019.
8. News: PRA Health Sciences makes $530M Symphony buy, reports 16% revenue growth in Q2 . FierceBiotech. Angus . Liu . August 8, 2017.
9. Web site: Investors | ICON PLC.
10. ICON acquisition creates world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation. 1 July 2021.
11. News: BRIEF-ICON says Steve Cutler to be named CEO . 8 December 2019 . Reuters . 20 October 2016.
12. Web site: n.d. . Profile Stephen A Cutler "Steve" . 28 November 2021 . www.bloomberg.com.
13. News: Winner 2018 . 8 December 2019 . Pharma Times . December 2018.
14. News: ICON Wins Multiple Categories in 2019 CRO Leadership Awards . 8 December 2019 . BusinessWire . 5 March 2019.
15. News: Clinical Researcher of the Year - The Americas 2021 winners announced . 29 October 2021 . Pharma Times . October 2021.
16. News: Scrip Awards 2022 Winners have been Announced. 30 November 2022 . Pharma Intelligence UK Limited . November 2022.
17. Web site: YRCR was acquired by Icon on February 3, 2000 . Mergr . 8 December 2019.
18. News: Barrington . Kathleen . Icon buys UCT for $2m cash plus $18m deferred payments . 8 December 2019 . Independent . 10 June 2000.
19. News: McGrath . Brendan . Icon buys US data group in first public acquisition . 8 December 2019 . The Irish Times . 1 February 2000.
20. Web site: Form 20-F . Securities and Exchange Commission . United States Government . 8 December 2019.
21. Web site: Form 20-F . Securities and Exchange Commission . United States Government . 8 December 2019.
22. Web site: ICON Acquires GloboMax . Mergr . 8 December 2019.
23. Web site: Beacon Bioscience Acquired by ICON July 1, 2004 . Crosstree Capital . 8 December 2019.
24. Web site: ICON Acquires Ovation Research Group . Mergr . 8 December 2019.
25. News: Mansell . Peter . ICON acquires clinical research staffer DOCS International . 8 December 2019 . Pharma Times . 16 July 2007.
26. News: ICON Acquires Healthcare Discoveries . 8 December 2019 . Contract Pharma . 12 February 2008.
27. News: MacDonald . Gareth . Icon boosts bioanalytical presence through Prevalere buy . 8 December 2019 . Outsourcing Pharma . 22 October 2009.
28. News: ICON Acquires Veeda Laboratories Ltd. . 8 December 2019 . Biospace . 8 December 2008.
29. News: Rhea . Shawn . Icon acquires Timaq Medical Imaging . 10 December 2019 . Modern Healthcare . 24 May 2010.
30. News: Mansell . Peter . ICON broadens late-phase expertise with Oxford Outcomes acquisition . 10 December 2019 . PharmaTimes . 18 January 2011.
31. News: Lynch . Suzanne . Pharmaceutical firm Icon buys Firecrest Clinical for undisclosed sum . 10 December 2019 . The Irish Times . 15 July 2011.
32. News: ICON-PLC Acquires PriceSpective . 10 December 2019 . Biospace . 28 February 2012.
33. News: ICON Acquires BeijingWits Medical Consulting Ltd . 10 December 2019 . BioSpace . 12 December 2011.
34. Web site: DOCS Acquires ClinForce and Assent Consulting . DOCS Global . DOCS . 10 December 2019.
35. News: Mansell . Peter . Icon to acquire Cross Country's Clinical Trial Services Division . 10 December 2019 . PharmaTimes . 5 February 2013.
36. News: Mansell . Peter . ICON to acquire Aptiv Solutions for US$143.5 million . 10 December 2019 . PharmaTimes . 1 April 2014.
37. News: ICON Completes Acquisition Of MediMedia Pharma Solutions . 10 December 2019 . BioSpace . 2 March 2015.
38. News: ICON Acquires PMG Research . 10 December 2019 . Contract Pharma . 7 December 2015.
39. News: ICON Completes the Acquisition of Clinical Research Management, Inc. . 10 December 2019 . BusinessWire . 19 September 2016.
40. Web site: ICON Acquires Mapi Group . Health Economics . 10 December 2019.
41. Web site: Symphony Clinical Research Acquired by ICON . Symphony Clinical Research . 10 December 2019.
42. News: ICON's Acquisition of MeDiNova Research . Bloomberg . 23 May 2019 . 10 December 2019.
43. News: Pennic . Fred . ICON Acquires Precision Medicine for Oncology Company MolecularMD . 10 December 2019 . HIT Consultant . 21 February 2019.
44. Web site: ICON Acquires MedPass International . Bloomberg. . 19 February 2020.
45. Web site: 2021-02-24. ICON to Acquire PRA Health Sciences, Creating a World Leader in Healthcare Intelligence and Clinical Research. 2021-07-01. www.businesswire.com. en.
46. Web site: Parsons. Lucy. 2021-02-26. ICON to acquire PRA Health Sciences in $12bn deal. 2021-10-19. PharmaTimes. en.