Leo Pharma calls on Icon to help with skin disease studies
Leo Pharma has called on Icon to help expand its program of dermatology focused clinical trials.
The Danish drug maker announced the “strategic partnership” this month, explaining that Icon will help it to scale clinical trial execution in a way that is patient-centric and cost effective.
Specifics of the Dublin-based clinical research organizations (CROs) role was not disclosed.
However, the partnership will leverage both fully outsourced and functional outsourcing models in a tailored and flexible hybrid approach according to Leo Pharma.
Jörg Möller, executive vice president and head of global R&D at LEO Pharma said, “We’ve been exploring several outsourcing models but found a hybrid sourcing model to be the most efficient.”
In a press statement Icon said it would draw upon a team of 500 plus professionals from its lab unit, its Accellacare site-network, its Firecrest site management team and decentralized clinical trials wing to service the contract.
According to Leo Pharma’s 2022 report an 8% increase in revenue from dermatology products was a key growth driver. The firm also said its pipeline of skin disease treatment candidates progressed during the year, citing its Phase III eczema drug delgocitinib and Phase II atopic dermatitis medication anti-IL-22R as examples.
Dermatology
Icon has been building its dermatology capabilities through a number of deals and investments over the past few years. In 2018, for example, it partnered with DuPage Medical Group. Similarly, the following year, it acquired a majority shareholding in MeDiNova Research, a site network with research facilities in Europe and Africa that has expertise in a number of therapeutic areas, including dermatology.
According to its website the CRO has conducted more than 115 dermatology-related studies in the past decade at nearly 6,000 sites worldwide. The firm also claims its Accellacare network has carried out 381 clinical trials of dermatology products, working with more 6,200 participants over the same period.
Growth
Icon CEO Steve Cutler welcomed the deal with Leo, explaining that the CRO will take a flexible approach to the collaboration.
“We take a flexible and integrated approach when working with our partners, utilizing fully outsourced, hybrid and FSP models that complement our partner’s internal capabilities and enable them to achieve their strategic goals.”
The deal fits with the strategy Icon outlined in February, when it said new business wins from traditional pharmaceutical companies would be an important growth driver this year.
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