Bristol-Myers Squibb appoints Icon for clinical development services

Bristol-Myers Squibb has selected Icon to offer support and expertise to assist its early stage clinical development programmes.

The biopharmaceutical services provider has been chosen as a preferred provider for full-service clinical pharmacology and exploratory clinical studies, building on a partnership that has been in place since June 2010.

A range of clinical trial services will be offered to Bristol-Myers Squibb via Icon's clinical pharmacology units in Manchester in the UK and San Antonio and Omaha in the US, thus improving productivity and cost-effectiveness.

Among the specific functions Icon will fulfil are protocol design and development, project management, clinical monitoring and pharmacovigilance.

Dr Mario Rocci, president for Icon Development Solutions, said: "We are pleased that Bristol-Myers Squibb has again chosen Icon to bring greater operational efficiencies and high-quality science to their drug development programmes."

Earlier this week, Bristol-Myers Squibb published clinical research data supporting the efficacy of Eliquis, a treatment for atrial fibrillation-related stroke developed alongside Pfizer.