ICON: DIA Live to Provide a Digital Window into DIA Conference 2016

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ICON plc, ICLR a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that it will be presenting DIA Live – a social media aggregation site that allows visitors to track and analyse Twitter conversations from delegates at the DIA2016 Global Annual Meeting (26-30 June, Philadelphia, PA).

The platform will provide a single source for visitors to view the social media conversations from participants at the DIA 2016, alongside broader conversations from Twitter users around the world using the hashtag #DIA2016.

This is a new collaboration between ICON and DIA, and the first time such an innovative data analysis and visualisation platform is being used to measure audience engagement and track social and digital media conversations around the event. The site is set to go live on the first day of the conference (26^th June) and will aggregate and stream a live feed of tweets sent by conference delegates as well as other participants.

DIA Live presents a convenient source for visitors to view key or trending topics, real time discussions, as well as stats and interactive infographics measuring activity and influence. Visitors to the platform will also be able to apply filters to tune into specific topics, compare discussions from previous days and have the opportunity to participate and shape debate.

This year the DIA 2016 conference is set to attract thousands of delegates from around the world who will be examining a wide range of topics from big data and cyber security to patient engagement and health care regulation. Using powerful data analysis in this context is a valuable opportunity for participants to follow specific areas of interest in an otherwise complex and vast dialogue space by applying filters or tracking relevant hashtags.

Those with an interest in the DIA2016 event but are unable to attend will have the opportunity to participate in live conversations via the platform as well.

David Green, VP Marketing, ICON said "We are excited to be collaborating with the DIA in the launch of this innovative digital platform. The DIA Annual Meeting centres around fostering innovation and cross-discipline integration, so it is fitting that this year the launch of this platform will enable individuals around the world to participate in these discussions."

"The conversations at DIA 2016 will cover the most pressing issues facing the life sciences industry today," Jonathan Commons, Senior Vice President of Marketing commented. "DIA Live will provide valuable insight and analysis to navigate the conversations from the world's largest gathering of life science industry professionals."

To participate in this year's conference, follow and engage with our team via www.dialive.org

About DIA 2016

DIA 2016 is DIA's global annual meeting to advance health care product development around the world by connecting stakeholders to interdisciplinary insights and innovation. As the organization's largest interdisciplinary event, DIA 2016 is a gathering of global perspectives bringing together a network of more than 7,000 professionals to foster innovation that leads to the development of safe and effective products and therapies to patients. The global annual meeting will draw attendees from 51 countries for the five-day conference, which also features a three-day expo with more than 450 exhibitors. For more information visit www.DIAglobal.org/DIA2016 or follow DIA on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Join the conversation using #DIA2016.

About ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of drug development solutions and 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. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON currently, operates from 89 locations in 37 countries and has approximately 12,200 employees.

Further information is available at www.iconplc.com

ICON/ICLR-G

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and information currently available, including current economic and industry conditions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actual results, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those stated in this press release. The forward-looking statements are subject to future events, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements, including, but not limited to, the ability to enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships, manage the opening of new offices and offering of new services, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as economic and global market conditions and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control. For these reasons, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. The word "expected" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.