Research into respiratory disease continues to have a high profile due to unmet needs and the large patient populations.

The increased prevalence of allergy and respiratory illnesses in the past 20 years has resulted in a corresponding surge in clinical research. ICON has participated in the development of allergy and respiratory drugs on the market today, and several inhalers for respiratory products. Our services include clinical, operational, and consulting support, from pre-clinical stage through post-registration.

ICON respiratory experience in the last five years

  • 123

    Studies conducted

  • 24,000+

    Patients involved

  • 3,500

    Sites worldwide

To address the complexity of respiratory research, ICON uses a multi-disciplinary approach. We bring together experts in infectious disease, paediatrics, rare disease, device development, innovation technology, translational, regulatory, and real world evidence, for a comprehensive approach to asset development.

Expertise in a wide range of indications

  • Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis
  • Asthma
  • COPD
  • a1-Anti trypsin deficiency
  • Respiratory infections
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • ARDS/SEPSIS and critically ill (ICU trials)

Incorporating respiratory testing methods

  • Sleep disorders
  • Biomarkers
  • Functional tests
  • Imaging
  • Nuclear medicine
  • Self-assessed scores and patient reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires
  • Wearables
  • Polysomnography
  • Ventilators
  • Oxygen therapy

Increasing patient centricity in clinical research 

Increasing patient centricity in clinical research is bringing benefits to both patients and sponsors. From our experience in conducting trials during pandemics and in rare disease indications, we know that it is essential to reduce patient burden. Working with the sponsor, patients, and providers, ICON can help to understand how the disease may be affecting a patient’s life and apply innovative solutions that both support patients and improve study compliance.

Accellacare

Accellacare is ICON's a global clinical research network, offering stand-alone and integrated solutions, including patient assessments at sites and in-home as part of decentralised trials.

Accellacare has strong asthma, COPD, smoking cessation, and allergy experience in particular, and provides a range of services for both ICON and sponsor-direct studies:

  • Board certified internal medicine physicians, family physicians, and pulmonologists
  • Breathing, lung function, and related testing
  • Clinical outcomes assessments (Exact, CAT, St. Georges Questionnaires, and others)
  • End point collection
  • Experience with devices and wearables and expertise in the use of inhalers, steroids, vaccinations and smoking cessation methodologies
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Factsheet: Respiratory expertise

ICON’s respiratory experts provide clients with guidance and insight from an extensive range of indications.

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Case study: Severe COPD Phase III

Integrated approach to pulmonary studies.

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Case study: Proof of concept respiratory disease biomarkers

Generating respiratory disease specific biomarkers with remote monitoring using wearables and advanced analytics.

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Case study: Allergic rhinitis

Overcoming patient enrolment challenges.

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Case study: Quantification of cough

ICON’s wearables and patient outcomes teams tested the feasibility and usability of wearables too objectively measure cough, ensuring that that the data streams from the wearables were fit-for-purpose, while capturing patient feedback and acceptance of the device.