ICON named best Contract Research Organisation in latest string of awards and recognitions

Dublin, Ireland – 7 December 2021 – ICON plc, (NASDAQ: ICLR) a global provider of drug and device development and commercialisation services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and government organisations, is proud to announce it was named the “Best Contract Research Organisation” of 2021 during the 17th Annual Scrip Awards ceremony on 2 December.

Pharma Intelligence, a premier source of information for the global pharmaceutical and biomedical industry, presented the annual Scrip Awards. These prestigious industry awards celebrate the essential role that the pharmaceutical, biotech, and other allied industries play in improving healthcare. Trophies span the entire range of industry activities from new drug launches and clinical trials to innovative deals, outsourcing, and fundraising.

The Best Contract Research Organisation (CRO) Award acknowledges the critical role that CROs play in drug development. ICON was selected as winner of this top award by a distinguished panel of life science industry executives for the capabilities and strengths the company offers to partners, the ability to deliver results and exceed sponsor expectations, innovations, improving quality of data, timelines, and transparency, and streamlining data collection and reporting.

“It is an honour to be recognised as the Best CRO at this year’s Scrip Awards,” said ICON CEO Steve Cutler. “All the credit in earning this prestigious award belongs to our employees who are passionate and committed to improving and saving lives. This recognition reflects that their vital work is appreciated by customers and held in high esteem throughout the industry. We join our global team in celebrating this achievement.”

ICON previously won the SCRIP Best CRO Award in 2019 and 2017. This latest recognition as the Best Contract Research Organisation continues ICON’s winning streak of awards and accolades this year.

It comes on the heels of ICON being named one of the World’s Best Employers for 2021 by global media company Forbes. This recognition is based entirely on employees’ on-the-job experiences and firsthand feedback.

Forbes – well-known and respected for its business lists and rankings – teamed with market research company Statista to identify the companies most liked by employees for its annual ranking of the world’s best employers. ICON represented the only CRO to make the list in a crowded field of more than 30 companies in the Drugs and Biotechnology category.

Additional industry awards and recognition

Earlier in the year, ICON was also ranked in Forbes’ list of 2021 Best Employers for Diversity. In compiling this list, 50,000 U.S. employees working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees participated in an anonymous survey. ICON was recognised based on evaluations from its employees on criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation equality, as well as general workplace diversity.

In November, ICON was named the Best Irish Company in France by The France Ireland Chamber of Commerce and NetworkIrlande as part of their annual Ireland France Business Awards. The Business Awards recognise excellence in the economic relationship between Ireland and France. ICON has operated for more than 22 years in France, conducting multi-country clinical studies and other services across various therapeutic areas on behalf of clients. The acquisition of PRA Health Sciences by ICON in 2021 has almost doubled ICON’s workforce in France to 1,093.

Also in November, ICON colleagues in China were awarded a Best Wellbeing Practice Award by multinational professional services firm Aon. This award recognises companies that incorporate practices that have a positive impact on physical, emotional, financial, social, or career wellbeing and that promote the overall health of employees. ICON received the Best Practice of Social Health Wellbeing Award for numerous healthful initiatives, such as establishing an employee engagement committee, enhancing staff wellness through a series of online activities, and staying connected to ICON colleagues, particularly during the COVID pandemic, through social activities.

In October, ICON was named Clinical Research Company of the Year in PharmaTimes’ Clinical Researcher of the Year 2021 – Americas competition. Several ICON employees were also recognised with awards in both individual and team categories from amongst a crowded field of industry leaders. ICON also had an impressive showing in Pharma Times’ International Clinical Researcher of the Year 2021 competition with employees earning wins in numerous categories. These rigorous, real-world challenges attract entrants from all over the world.

In April, ICON scored wins in multiple categories in the 2021 CRO Leadership Awards from Life Science Leader magazine. ICON received 2021 CRO Leadership Awards in the five categories, each further divided into three groups – Big Pharma, Small Pharma, and Overall. In two categories, ICON earned awards in both the Big Pharma and Overall groups. Life Science Leader partners with Industry Standard Research (ISR) to determine the award recipients, assessing 60 contract research organisations on over 20 performance metrics in ISR’s annual CRO Quality Benchmarking survey.

“The awards that ICON have been nominated for, and have won, are a testament to the excellence displayed every day by our clinical and corporate teams,” said Dr. Nuala Murphy, President of Global Specialty Solutions at ICON. “They are committed to ICON’s mission, focused on the patient experience, and determined to deliver for our customers. This year has been a particular triumph for ICON, and I am excited and thankful to be a part of a team with many talented people.”

A full list of ICON’s industry awards can be viewed at www.iconplc.com/awards. 

About ICON plc

ICON is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation. From molecule to medicine, we advance clinical research providing outsourced development and commercialisation services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. We develop new innovations, drive emerging therapies forward and improve patient lives. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON operates from 136 locations in 46 countries and has approximately 37,960 employees as of September 30, 2021. For more information, visit www.iconplc.com.

Media Contacts:

Laurie Hurst

Sr Director, Public Relations & Communications, ICON plc

+1 919-274-3189

Laurie.Hurst@iconplc.com

Weber Shandwick (PR adviser)

Lisa Henry (GMT time zone)

+447785 458203

lhenry@webershandwick.com