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/
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