LEO Pharma, a global leader in medical dermatology, and ICON plc, entered into a strategic partnership that will enable LEO Pharma to scale clinical trial execution that is patient-centric and cost effective, to support the company’s clinical portfolio.

The partnership will operate under the acronym of PACE, reflecting the requirement to move quickly to address clinical development challenges. It also represents LEO Pharma and ICON’s shared values of Passion, Agility, Communication and Excellence in delivery.

The partnership will leverage both fully outsourced and functional outsourcing models in a tailored and flexible hybrid approach.

LEO Pharma plans to achieve the following goals:

• Drive efficiencies in clinical trials 
• Significant and lean scalability in all areas of in clinical development  
• Co-investment within the area of decentralised clinical trials 
• Access to a significant number of ICON in-house ancillary services 
• Economies of scope and scale 
• Access to external data, knowledge & expertise as well as technologies

“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,” said Jörg Möller, executive vice president and head of Global R&D at LEO Pharma. “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.”

In supporting LEO Pharma through the partnership, ICON will draw upon a team of over 500 professionals from across its business to provide tailored services and 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. 

“ICON is delighted to enter this partnership with LEO Pharma that truly takes advantage of our breadth of capability and expertise,” said Steve Cutler, CEO, ICON. “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.”