Cardiovascular
ICON's cardiovascular trial experience, supported by a global team of experts
Obesity and beyond
Embracing multi-indication potential during clinical development
The obesity therapeutic marketplace has rapidly embraced multi-indication drug development, following successful label expansion of incretin agonists semaglutide and tirzepatide. Explore the rise of multi-indication drug development across cardiometabolic-related conditions and the strategies driving clinical and commercial success for molecules with broad potential.
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Survey report
How today’s obesity developers are navigating a multi-indication landscape
From January 24 to March 5, 2025, ICON conducted a survey of 155 developers in obesity and related comorbidities. Survey respondents shared their clinical development and commercialisation strategies for molecules with broad clinical and commercial potential, and factors influencing whether or not to pursue multi-indication development of agents in their pipeline.
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A multifaceted risk factor: Addressing obesity's impact across the disease spectrum
With obesity as a risk factor across the disease spectrum, there are several unique considerations and strategies for sponsors and researchers to account for in their approach to development and clinical trials for obesity treatment.
Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular trials
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the conduct of clinical trials and participants. Participants in cardiovascular (CV) trials typically are older, with underlying CV disease or risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes – a population at higher risk of death from COVID-19 if they contract the virus. As a result, these individuals may have heightened concerns about participating in a clinical trial due to the potential for exposure to COVID-19. Discover measures that can be implemented in ongoing trials to ensure the safety of participants, maximise retention and maintain trial integrity.
From genomics to the coming of age glycomics
Discover how glycan biomarkers are quickly becoming key elements of cancer, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal research, setting the stage for a new golden age of epigenetic research and personalised therapeutics.
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Thriving in Value-Based Healthcare: A guide for cardiovascular medical device manufacturers
In December 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Initiative to include cardiovascular and hip fracture services, taking a major step in the march towards value-based care in the US. Read how can medical device manufacturers sustain growth and successfully navigate this new model?
Reimagining patient-centric clinical trials with the IoMT
Follow a theoretical patient through the entire clinical trial journey – from initial contact for an early study through transition to treatment with an approved product. At each stage, we explore how IoMT can increase clinical development programme efficiency by reducing the burden on patients, caregivers, pharma companies and medical device and diagnostic manufacturers.
Cardiovascular event adjudication during COVID-19 and beyond
In this webinar you will learn more about best practices for cardiovascular event adjudication across drug and device trials, including recent advances in the selection and application of connected devices.
Latest on Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Circulation
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Blogs and media articles relating to cardiovascular and metabolic clinical trials
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Media article: Cardiovascular outcomes trials revisited – methodological enhancements for greater clinical relevance.
ICON experts, Pierre Martineau and Adrienne Stoudenmire, share key considerations for successful CVOTs including study design, data strategy and technology in this new article.
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Media article: Embracing proactive multi-indication development for metabolic therapies
In this article, ICON expert , Alan Baldridge discusses how multi-indication development strategies are gaining traction, driven by successful trials across diverse diseases and the expansion of type 2 diabetes drugs into obesity and cardiovascular indications.
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Media article: Strategic Commercialisation of Multi-Indication Obesity Therapies: Balancing Early Access, Pricing, and Lifecycle Value
A 2025 survey of over 150 drug developers reveals that multi-indication development strategies have become central to the evolving cardiometabolic drug pipeline.
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Media article: Survey of Obesity Developers Suggests Multi-Indication Approaches are Vital but Demanding
Following the rapid label expansion of drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide in recent years, drug developers have broadly adopted multi-indication strategies for obesity and related comorbidities. An ICON survey of 155 developers focused on these therapeutic areas reflects this growing trend.
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Media article: Yearly Trends in Coverage Rates for GLP-1 RAs in Weight Loss
New research from Symphony Health, an ICON plc company, featured in The American Journal of Managed Care (AMJC), highlights ongoing challenges in patient access to GLP-1 therapies for weight loss.
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Media article: Tackling the next frontier in metabolic trials: A Q&A with ICON experts
In this article, ICON experts explore strategies to help sponsors navigate the evolving obesity research landscape, highlighting the use of adaptive designs, master protocols, and other innovative approaches.
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Media article: Obesity therapies and the multi-indication momentum: how industry is responding
The rise of GLP-1 agonist therapies has transformed obesity treatment, delivering unprecedented results and revealing their potential across a spectrum of interconnected conditions. New data reveals how the breakthrough has sparked a major shift toward multi-indication drug development.
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Media article: ICON launches multi-indication trial design service for obesity drugs
Clinical trial designs for obesity treatments should accommodate candidate drugs that have the potential to treat multiple conditions, or developers risk missing opportunities, according to Irish CRO ICON.
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Cardiovascular clinical trials services at ICON
ICON has over 25 years' experience conducting cardiovascular trials, with particular emphasis on key cardiovascular/metabolic indications: heart failure, lipid disorders, diabetes, renal insufficiency and renal transplant, arrhythmia, and rare diseases.