DUBLIN, 6th October, 2010: ICON plc, (NASDAQ:ICLR) (ISIN:IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that its hospital-based Clinical Pharmacology Unit in Manchester, UK has achieved Supplementary Accreditation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).The purpose built unit, part of the ICON Development Solutions division, is situated on the largest academic healthcare campus in Europe.
Supplementary Accreditation is the highest level of accreditation in Europe - going beyond Standard Accreditation to demonstrate that ICON’s Clinical Pharmacology Unit adheres to the highest clinical safety standards. This designation permits ICON to carry out all Phase I trials including First in Human (FIH) trials requiring review from the EAG (Expert Advisory Group).
Thomas Frey, President ICON Development Solutions, commented: “Our Clinical Pharmacology team in Manchester worked closely with the MHRA during their routine inspection to demonstrate our active commitment to safety and quality. This accreditation award, combined with our experience conducting over 1,500 early phase studies, reinforces to trial volunteers and sponsors alike that ICON is an industry-leader in Phase I clinical research. We are pleased to have participated in this voluntary accreditation process that ensures continuous safety improvements are realised in early clinical development.”
The MHRA established this accreditation scheme in 2006 to formalise routine, rigorous inspections so that clinical safety standards are made even more robust. Accreditation is granted following a successful MHRA GCP Inspection where a unit must demonstrate appropriately trained personnel and facilities are immediately available to manage medical emergencies.
About ICON plc
: ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programmes that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON currently has around 7,700 employees, operating from 71 offices in 39 countries.
Contact Details: Emily Brand Corporate Communications Manager +353-1-2912665 Emily.brand@iconplc.com
Sam Barnes Director Weber Shandwick | Healthcare Fox Court 14 Gray’s Inn Road London, WC1X 8WS t: +44 (0) 020 7067 0216 f: +44 (0) 844 875 1463 m: +44 (0) 7894 094 461
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