ICLR ICON PLC

ICON and Beacon Bioscience Partner for Medical Imaging DUBLIN, Ireland and DOYLESTOWN, Pa., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- ICON plc (NASDAQ:ICLR), a global clinical research organization and Beacon Bioscience, Inc., the Medical Imaging CRO, announced today that ICON has acquired a majority interest and invested new equity in Beacon Bioscience, Inc., a leading specialist CRO in the Medical Imaging field. The deal brings together two highly innovative companies with common interest in science, technology, and quality. Founded in November 2000, Beacon has a strong technology platform, focused on the centralized management, processing and reading of digital medical images generated in clinical trials, including X-ray, MRI, CT, PET, Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound. Beacon helps to accelerate the development of drugs and other medical products through innovative trial design, integrated informatics, and a strong service component. Beacon's team has conducted over 200 imaging trials in oncology, neurology and cardiovascular disease. "Beacon's medical imaging focus, technology platform and experienced team are a natural fit for ICON's global service offerings," said Peter Gray, CEO of ICON. "We're excited about the synergies with our current offerings." Medical Imaging is a non-invasive means of acquiring biological data that reveals an unparalleled wealth of information about the structure and function of the living body. Exciting advances in imaging technology are shedding new light on disease processes and drug interaction. Radical breakthroughs in diseases like Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Coronary Disease are emerging from imaging trials with pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Novartis, Astra Zeneca and Glaxo Smith Kline all committing extensive resources toward imaging research. GE's multi-billion dollar acquisition of Amersham, a leader in diagnostic imaging and research conveys concrete confidence in the future of imaging in clinical trials. "The fit with ICON is tremendous. Our strategic focus on technology is completely aligned and the partnership provides Beacon with a global footprint, allied technologies and comprehensive resources to allow us to continue our rapid growth and provide our clients with an unparalleled offering", said Ted Gastineau, CEO of Beacon. ICON is a global clinical research organization, with 34 offices in 21 countries and has over 2,500 employees world-wide. Beacon Bioscience, Inc. is a leading Medical Imaging CRO (Contract Research Organization) providing medical imaging core lab services to pharmaceutical, biotech and life science clients all over the world. The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In addition to the matters described in this Press Release, the ability to maintain large client contracts or enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships and the ability to manage the opening of new offices, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, may affect the actual results achieved by ICON. ICON disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: Beacon Bioscience, Inc.; ICON plc CONTACT: Investor Relations, +1-888-381-7923, or Sean Leech, CFO of ICON plc (Dublin), +353-1-291-2000; or Ted Gastineau, CEO of Beacon Bioscience, Inc., +1-215-489-2626 Web site: http://www.beaconbioscience.com/ http://www.iconclinical.com/

Copyright