Pharmaceutical company Icon has announced a partnership with Pfizer, which will see it serve as one of two providers of clinical trial services to Pfizer.

The partnership is part of the Pfizer’s new approach to research and development (RD), which will see the drug giant focus on its core capabilities in the design of clinical trials, while outsourcing their implementation.

Peter Gray, chief executive of Icon, which has its headquarters in Dublin, said the announcement reflected Icon’s ability to work in partnership with major companies.