ICON PLC

ICON plc is an Irish headquartered multinational healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation.[1] As of February 2025 had approximately 41,900 employees in 55 countries.[2]

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 March 2017, Steve Cutler was appointed chief executive officer of ICON.[7] 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.[8]

In 2018, ICON won PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year.[9] In 2021, ICON was awarded PharmaTimes Clinical Research Company of the Year,[10] and in 2022, won Best Contract Research Organisation (FSP) [11] at the Scrip Awards.

On September 4, 2025, ICON announced that Steve Cutler will step down as CEO following his retirement on 1 October 2025 and is to be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Barry Balfe.[12]

Acquisitions

• 2000: ICON acquired UK-based regulatory consultancy, YRCR Ltd.; Central Laboratory in New York; and bioanalytical consultancy, Pacific Research[13][14][15]
• 2002: ICON acquired clinical research provider, BPA.[16]
• 2003: ICON acquired Medieval, a UK-based Phase I facility, and US consulting firm, Globomax [17][18]
• 2004: ICON acquired medical imaging specialist, Beacon Bioscience Inc.[19]
• 2006: ICON acquired outcomes research and health economics specialist, Ovation Research Group[20]
• 2007: ICON acquired European staffing group, DOCS International[21]
• 2008: ICON acquired US phase I provider, Healthcare Discoveries and US bioanalytical lab, Prevalere Life Sciences[22][23]
• 2009: ICON acquired Veeda Laboratories, a UK biomarker lab[24]
• 2010: ICON acquired Timaq Medical Imaging Inc.[25]
• 2011: ICON acquired Oxford Outcomes, an international health outcomes consultancy and Firecrest Clinical, a technology provider specialising in site performance and study management[26][27]
• 2012: ICON acquired PriceSpective, a global value strategy consultancy and Chinese CRO, BeijingWits[28][29]
• 2013: ICON acquired staffing and FSP providers, ClinForce and Assent and Akos, an EU provider of pharmacovigilance and drug safety services[30][31]
• 2014: ICON acquired Aptiv Solutions, a market leader in adaptive trial design and execution[32]
• 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[33][34]
• 2016: ICON acquired Clinical Research Management Inc., to extend its presence in the government-sponsored research market[35]
• 2017: ICON acquired MAPI Group, thereby becoming the world's second-largest provider of late-phase services[36]
• 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[37][38][39]
• 2020: ICON acquired MedPass International, a leading European medical device CRO, regulatory and reimbursement consultancy[40]
• 2021: ICON acquired PRA Health Sciences, a competitor offering clinical research services, for US$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.[41][42]

Finances

See also

• List of companies of Ireland

External links