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Bring in the biotechs

Deepali Suri, ICON Biotech President, shares her vision for 2026 and beyond

When Deepali Suri stepped into her new role as president of ICON’s biotech division in September 2025, she brought with her more than two decades of experience across big pharma, biotech, and CROs. She also brought a clear vision for the industry’s future. 

Her mandate is ambitious but simple: Make ICON the partner of choice for biotechs worldwide by delivering proactive, technology-enabled, patient-centric solutions. 

“I’ve literally lived the biotech space for a very long time,” Suri says. “You cannot take that away from me. It’s in my DNA.”

A 2026 ICON outlook

Looking ahead, Suri sees technology as the defining force shaping global clinical research. 

“One of the key trends is the use of technology in clinical trials,” she says. “Science is getting more complex, and it needs to be backed by strong technology, whether it’s the use of AI in drug discovery or, more importantly, in development.”  

ICON, she believes, is already ahead of the curve. 

"We’ve always been leaders in breaking the norm. Our biotech division has a strong vision to have a bespoke, non-rigid model, but one that really works for each and every biotech client."

The therapeutic areas Suri expects to drive the most growth in 2026 include oncology, rare diseases, and advanced modalities.  

“Oncology absolutely remains one of the keys,” she says, noting both the prevalence and personal impact of cancer, having lost her own father to the disease. “But I also don’t want to undermine the impact of other diseases. Whether we’re treating one patient with a rare disease or millions of patients, our impact should remain the same.”  

Based in San Francisco, Suri is also strategically positioned at one of the global biotech hubs. Her West Coast location allows her to maintain close connections with U.S. innovators and ICON’s global teams, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region, which she describes as a continued growth priority for the business.

Leadership shaped by industry experience

Suri’s leadership style is informed by her cross-sector career journey. After starting in big pharma, she joined the biotech world in the early 2010s, including seven years at California-based Pharmacyclics, where her team helped guide Imbruvica—a therapy used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia—through pivotal trials and acquisition.   

“This biotech understanding of what sponsors need is built in me,” she says, highlighting her gradual shift into the CRO industry as intentional.  

“It was a very conscious move,” she says. “I’m determined to make a big difference for biotech clients and that’s what I live by.”  

Of course, this sponsor-side experience now informs her vision for ICON.   

“At ICON, our big mission is to make a deep impact on the lives of patients,” she says. “What I’ve seen in just a few weeks is a deep sense of ownership here. People don’t stop until they solve these critical, life-changing situations. That sets ICON apart.”

“Bring in the biotechs”

Central to her strategy is a mantra she repeats often: “Bring in the biotechs.” But for Suri, this means more than expanding ICON’s biotech book of business, it’s about cultural alignment and equal partnership.  

“Don’t be afraid to own up,” she says. “Of course, we’re already owning our deliverables, but we somehow shy away from having an equal seat at the table.'

"There’s nothing for us to be shy of anymore. I have a full-blown strategy for how we infuse that biotech culture within the organisation."

Suri wants biotech sponsors to view ICON project managers and study teams as peers and thought leaders.   

“When biotech clients work with us, I want them to see an equal partner in their drug development journey and an ICON representative who resonates with them,” she says. 

From reactive to proactive

Another critical aspect of Suri’s approach is moving the industry from being less reactive to more proactive.  

“Perception is reality in this industry, and we’ve been working by lagging indicators,” she states. “One of my key mantras is proactive solutioning, really bringing visibility into what’s coming ahead so teams can start thinking about risks early.”  

She has implemented such platforms in previous roles and plans to bring them to ICON’s biotech division. It’s about not reacting but anticipating and coming to clients with solutions before they even see a problem.

Talent and the next generation

Suri is equally focused on people, both inside ICON and across the industry. She is investing in ICON’s current teams through custom, biotech-focused training and nurturing new talent through expanded internship programs.   

She also has a personal connection to the next generation: Her 15-year-old daughter proudly calls herself a “tech bio girl.” 

“That’s the kind of talent we’re cultivating—no attachment to the old way, eager to learn and contribute,” Suri says. “We’ll bring in that fresh blood while uplifting the amazing people we already have.”

Using tech wisely

On technology, Suri is both practical and passionate.   

“AI is here, it’s here to stay, and it’s only here to support the business,” she says. ICON has already applied AI to pharmacovigilance, protocol design, and site selection, but Suri sees opportunities to go even further.  

“My strategy is a very real-world application of AI through the drug development lifecycle,” she says. “Biotechs, especially those constrained for resources, need to see the biggest impact here. It’s on us as a CRO industry to bring them those solutions.” 

She stresses, however, that AI must be used wisely. 

"There’s a smart way to use AI. It’s not for every use, but it can free our people to focus on strategic thinking while the technology supports day-to-day functionality."

Defining success

With her energy, experience, and biotech-first mindset, Suri is poised to make “bring in the biotechs” more than just a personal mantra, but a blueprint for the future of ICON.   

But how exactly does she define a successful 2026? By simply being the best.  

“We will be successful next year and beyond,” she says, “because we proved that we are the best-inclass CRO for the entire industry.”

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