The companies hope that by working together they can increase the execution of clinical trials and the launch of new medicines specifically targeting dermatology patients.
Specifically, LEO Pharma hopes to be able to make sure the trials are patient-centric and cost-effective.
Jörg Möller, executive vice president and head of global research and development at LEO Pharma, said: “We’ve been exploring several outsourcing models but found a hybrid sourcing model to be the most efficient.
“Partnering with ICON supports our 2030 strategy as it will help us to bring innovative treatments to patients faster while also supporting a more sustainable business through scalability and flexibility.”
The mission of the partnership, both companies say, is to improve the lives of dermatology patients. The partnership says it will operate under the acronym of PACE, which the companies say reflects the requirement to move quickly to address clinical development challenges. They said the acronym also represents LEO Pharma and ICON’s shared values of passion, agility, communication and excellence in delivery.
Möller added: “ICON’s wealth of services and leading position in clinical development will support LEO Pharma’s R&D strategy building on driving innovation through partnerships and support staying competitive.”
The partnership will leverage both fully outsourced and functional outsourcing models in a tailored and flexible hybrid approach.
LEO Pharma says it plans to achieve drive efficiencies in clinical trials, significant and lean scalability in all areas of expertize within clinical development and a co-investment within the area of decentralized trials all while remaining a patient centric company.
The pharma company wants access to a significant number of ICON in-house ancillary services, economies of scope and scale, access to external data, knowledge and expertise as well as technologies and a partnership with a company that shares similar core values.
In supporting LEO Pharma through this partnership, ICON will draw upon a team of over 500 professionals from across its business to deliver tailored solutions, bringing differentiating and enabling capabilities including its laboratories, Accellacare site-network, FIRECREST site management and decentralized clinical trial capabilities to create strategic advantage in how the trials are delivered.
Steve Cutler, CEO, ICON , said: “We are delighted to enter this partnership that truly takes advantage of our breadth of capability and expertize. We take a flexible and integrated approach when working with our partners, utilising fully outsourced, hybrid and FSP models that complement our partner’s internal capabilities and enable them to achieve their strategic goals. It is also motivating for our employees to be working with a partner that shares our values and has a commitment to improving the lives of patients.”
