Biotech case studies
How our flexible approach helps small and mid sized biopharma clients develop transformative therapies and meet milestones to market
Discover our expertise by exploring our biotech case studies and see how we help biotech achieve critical milestones.

Protocol optimisation
A virtual biotech start-up acquired an immunomodulatory mechanism targeting inflammatory pathways. It had undergone phase 1 and small phase 2a studies. With urgency to advance development and limited resources, the client proposed two separate studies, posing challenges in complexity, timeline, and budget. The client turned to ICON to streamline development.

Early phase study for non-opioid pain treatment
A leading biotech company developing a groundbreaking non-opioid treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain partnered with ICON to conduct a series of early-phase trials.

Multinational phase 1 biosimilar study
ICON conducted a multinational biosimilar phase 1 study for multiple sclerosis (MS). This trial was performed under high regulatory scrutiny and challenging pandemic conditions, with increased dosing targets requiring additional site activation.

A small biotech success story
A small US-based biotech company was in a race to be the first to market with their lead targeted oncology product.

CRF design for a cell-therapy, immuno-oncology study
ICON developed flexible, cost-effective CRF designs for a cell therapy immuno-oncology study, harmonising RECIST and iRECIST criteria while addressing re-treatment requirements and supporting sponsors in meeting study timelines.

Optimised adaptive trial design for oncology biotech
ICON assisted a US-based oncology biotech in overcoming timeline, data uncertainty, budget constraints, and pressure for publishable results by offering a cost-effective phase 3 trial design with interim analysis, enabling early efficacy and regulatory approval with minimal upfront investment.

Patient support services
A sponsor needed to recruit nearly 500 patients for a pivotal study in an ultra rare disease. The study's demanding protocol posed significant difficulties for patients. ICON was able to revise the protocol, reducing patient burden, and implemented a global recruitment strategy and additional support that allowed recruitment to be completed ahead of schedule, saving the sponsor an estimated $700,000.

Comprehensive standalone DMC services
ICON provided a comprehensive DMC solution for a phase 2 NASH trial, overcoming challenges like coordinating data across multiple vendors and adjusting to rapid enrollment.

Improved adherence in a high-risk immunology study for a small biotech
A small US based biotechnology company sought ICON’s assistance for a high-risk immunology study with heavy investment and limited resources. The study was a phase 3 Lupus SLE study with a complex protocol governing 90 sites.

Due diligence for portfolio investments
For this client, ICON has performed technical evaluations of more than sixty assets across a range of therapeutic areas and modalities, including assessing the development risks and probability of achieving registration and commercial success.

Success in early phase psoriasis study
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on behalf of a biotechnology organisation to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the study drug in subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.