Icon buys Chinese clinical research firm

Icon PLC, which provides development services to drug and medical device makers, said Monday it has agreed to buy BeijingWits Medical Consulting Ltd. to expand its business into China. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BeijingWits provides clinical development services to drug, medical device and biotechnology companies focused on early, middle and late stages of clinical trials. Icon, which is based in Ireland, said the company has a strong track record in clinical trial execution in China, and it knows the Chinese regulatory process.

Icon said a growing number of its global clients want to start research in China. BeijingWits has more than 100 employees operating from six offices in China.

The deal is expected to close in next year's first quarter.