ICON selected by Genomics England

ICON plc, (NASDAQ: ICLR) a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that is has been selected by Genomics England as data management partner for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

A ground-breaking project announced by the British Prime Minister in 2012, the 100,000 Genomes Project is sequencing 100,000 whole genomes from 70,000 National Health Service (NHS) cancer and rare disease patients and their families. It aims to demonstrate a new genomic medicine service for the NHS to support better diagnosis and more personalised treatments for patients.

De-identified data from the 100,000 Genomes Project will also be made available to approved researchers from industry to help accelerate the development of new treatments and diagnostic tests that are targeted at the genetic characteristics of individual patients.

As Genomics England’s data management partner, ICON will use its powerful data management capabilities, and understanding of the growing role genomics data will have in clinical trials, to validate clinical data from the 70,000 participating patients and their families. This work will take place within the secure Genomics England data environment. .

“We are very proud that our genomics knowledge and our capabilities in securely managing large clinical and real world datasets have been chosen by Genomics England for such an important and transformative project,” commented Professor Brendan Buckley, ICON’s Chief Medical Officer. “Our partnership with Genomics England demonstrates our commitment to partnering with industry and government organisations in new and innovative ways to improve patient care by accelerating the development of targeted and personalised medicines that tackle complex diseases. Genomics England’s selection of ICON also reaffirms ICON as a trusted partner to government organisations as well as the world’s top pharma, biotech and medical device companies.”

James Peach, Managing Director for the 100,000 Genomes Project Main Programme at Genomics England said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ICON. Their renowned expertise in data management will be fundamental in driving scientific research and accelerating the return of results for NHS patients.”

About Genomics England

Genomics England is a company owned by the Department of Health and was set up to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. This flagship project will sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients and their families by 2017. Genomics England has four main aims:

• To bring benefit to patients
• To create an ethical and transparent programme based on consent
• To enable new scientific discovery and medical insights
• To kick-start the development of a UK genomics industry

The project is focusing on patients with rare diseases and their families, as well as patients with common cancers. More information is at www.genomicsengland.co.uk

About ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. 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. ICON has headquarters in Dublin Ireland and employs over 700 staff in the UK from offices in London, Marlow, Eastleigh, Abingdon and Edinburgh. Globally, ICON operates from 89 locations in 38 countries and has approximately 11,900 employees.

ICON Media Contact

Pippa Chester
Weber Shandwick
+44 (0) 207 067 0571
PChester@webershandwick.com

Genomics England Media Contact

Katrina Nevin-Ridley
Director of Communications
Genomics England
+44-(0)207 882 6493
katrina.nevin-ridley@genomicsengland.co.uk

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