Compounding and pharmacy capabilities

Icon is uniquely positioned to deliver an end-to-end research model backed by the group’s compounding and pharmacy capabilities. Holding long-standing relationships with hospitals, pharmaceutical and manufacturing, Icon provides a collaborative and connected ecosystem conducive to quality management of clinical trials and rigorous research projects.

COMPOUNDING

Icon Group’s compounding arm, Slade Health assists hospitals across Australia with clinical trials through the delivery of compounding services from Slade’s three TGA-licensed facilities which adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Slade’s clinical trial experience spans Phase I-IV studies, primarily in oncology and haematology.

Slade’s clinical trials service includes national trial coordination among the TGA-licensed compounding facilities to ensure relevant criteria is met for the compounding of investigational products. Each compounding facility has dedicated trials staff who oversee the management and segregated storage of clinical trial drugs in validated and monitored equipment.

Slade supports the administrative work required in clinical trials by providing relevant manufacturing records and maintaining training documentation to guarantee compliance with Good Clinical Practice. With validated couriers, Slade also assures the safe and secure cold chain or ambient transport of clinical trial products to hospitals on time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 248 clinical trials across three Slade Health TGA licensed compounding facilities

- 40 for Epic, Slade and Icon pharmacies

- 58 for NSW public hospitals

- 150 for direct hospital pharmacy customers

• Over 90% oncology/haematology; remaining in autoimmune, neurodegenerative indications

• 20% Phase I clinical trials, 80% Phase II-IV

• Approximately 3,000 compounded sterile clinical trial products annually

PHARMACY

Icon Group provides a complete suite of management services to support the operations of Epic Pharmacy and Slade Pharmacy. Epic and Slade pharmacies have a long and extensive history in clinical trial involvement and proudly work with hospital partners and Icon’s cancer centres to manage the pharmaceutical components and associated costs of providing investigational drug services for clinical trials in both inpatient and outpatient settings across Australia.

The Group’s pharmacies support a range of clinical trials from Phase I to Phase IV, covering a diverse array of clinical indications including solid tumours, cardiovascular, haematology, neurological, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Most trials are commercially sponsored with some involvement in unsponsored collaborative research studies.

All pharmacies follow Good Clinical Practice in the handling of investigational products, with a requirement that all pharmacy staff handling trial products have a current GCP certificate, which includes the requirements stipulated by the TGA, and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists’ SHPA’s Standard of Practice in clinical trials for pharmacy services.

Experienced clinical trials pharmacists from the Group’s Pharmacy Practice Unit (PPU) provide support to pharmacy staff including trial documentation, policies, training and administrative guidance on pharmacy costs, contracts and indemnification. As part of a quality assurance program, the PPU audits the clinical trial pharmacies annually, assessing training, policies and procedures, trial documentation, facilities and equipment.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 23 pharmacies delivering clinical trials

• 494 active trials at end of 2021. 164 of these are trials within Icon centres, with the remainder external to the group i.e. hospital partners

• 173 clinical trials opened in the calendar year