ICON launches the Coronavirus Observatory

Dublin, Ireland, 23 March 2020 – ICON plc, (NASDAQ: ICLR) a leading global provider of drug and device development and commercialisation services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced the launch of the Coronavirus Observatory  (www.iconplc.com/coronavirus) – a free tool which provides real-time updates on COVID-19 vaccine trials, and delivers unique insights into the key issues driving online Coronavirus conversations.

The Coronavirus Observatory applies powerful AI analysis and data visualisation to COVID-19 news and social media, providing updates on the latest vaccine trials, with insights into trending topics driving Coronavirus reporting. The Coronavirus Observatory also breaks down the global impact of the virus, looks at trending topics per country, and highlights important perspectives from the key organisations, including non-governmental organisations, public health authorities and the medical science community.

“We want the Coronavirus Observatory to become a key resource to track Coronavirus issues and help people stay up to date with the latest news in the race to develop a vaccine and therapeutics,” commented Nuala Murphy, President, Clinical Research Services, ICON plc. “Ensuring people are informed about the latest developments in this global pandemic remains essential when so many prevention measures centre on public action.”

“ICON is deeply committed to driving research into the Coronavirus and we are working tirelessly with our customers to develop a vaccine, therapeutics and testing kits. But we have not forgotten the thousands of patients who rely on ICON and our customers to develop life-saving medications for a wide variety of other conditions. Our investigators are continuing this work despite the challenges of COVID-19 and we are using all the tools at our disposal to minimise disruption.”

In February, ICON mobilised its vaccine resources to address the COVID-19 global threat, including its ability to conduct home-based trials to minimise infection. The company is currently providing clinical monitoring and safety oversight on a number of COVID-19 trials for both the private and government sectors. These include a prophylactic vaccine study in healthy participants, and a study investigating antiviral treatment for patients with confirmed Coronavirus infection. ICON has conducted more than 246 vaccine studies globally, including over 40 studies in respiratory viruses, within the past five years alone.

Nuala Murphy, President, Clinical Research Services, ICON plc, is available to discuss vaccine development and the challenges of safely delivering clinical trials in the rapidly evolving COVID-19 environment. More information is available at www.iconplc.com/covid-19.

ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced drug and device development and commercialisation services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. The company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON currently operates from 97 locations in 40 countries and has approximately 14,650 employees as at December 31, 2019. Further information is available at www.iconplc.com.

Gareth Arnold
Weber Shandwick(+44) 7870 516043
garnold@webershandwick.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and information currently available, including current economic and industry conditions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actual results, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those stated in this press release. The forward-looking statements are subject to future events, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements, including, but not limited to, the ability to enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships, manage the opening of new offices and offering of new services, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as economic and global market conditions and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control. For these reasons, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. The word "expected" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.