ICON Opens Full Service Central Laboratory in India

Expands Global Laboratory Network to Meet Market Demands for Global Trials

Dublin, Ireland, November 12th, 2008 – ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR; ISIN:IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced the opening of a full service central laboratory in Bangalore, India. The purpose-built, 15,000 sq ft facility expands ICON Central Laboratories’ existing network of laboratories located in Farmingdale, New York; Dublin, Ireland and Singapore. The new laboratory is in the process of receiving CAP (College of American Pathologists) and NABL (National Accreditation Board for Laboratory Testing) accreditation.

“India has become a key region for global clinical trials, which has greatly boosted the demand for local laboratory testing within a global laboratory network,” commented Bob Scott-Edwards, President, ICON Central Laboratories. “Having a fully-owned facility in India provides clients with the reassurance that our core laboratory services, ranging from sample management and testing to final data transfer, adhere to our stringent global quality standards. We also offer a test menu that is second to none, which avoids the need to export samples and makes ICON a one-stop-shop for clients looking to conduct complex clinical trials in India.”

ICON has also appointed Dr. Anuradha Rajput to the position of General Manager, ICON Central Laboratories India. Dr. Rajput joins ICON Central Laboratories after eight years with Clinigene International, where she held the position of General Manager and Laboratory Director. She has proven expertise in laboratory operations, business development, logistics, quality assurance processes and HR management. Dr. Rajput has a PhD in Biochemistry and is a certified CAP inspector.

About ICON Central Laboratories
ICON Central Laboratories, a division of ICON plc, provides full service, global central laboratory services from core facilities in New York, Dublin, Singapore and India, as well as through quality affiliate laboratories in China and Japan. An extensive test menu of safety, esoteric and custom-developed assays, including global flow cytometry, is complemented by dedicated, sponsor-specific project teams and a single, comprehensive database for each study as well as a user-friendly, web-based, secure remote data access system. ICON Central Laboratories also offers a unique service to manage and compile laboratory data when a client’s study requires the use of local laboratories.

For more information, visit www.icolabs.com.

About ICON plc
ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON teams have successfully conducted over 5500 development projects and consultancy engagements across all major therapeutic areas. ICON currently has over 6600 employees, operating from 71 locations in 38 countries.

Further information is available at www.iconplc.com