BARDA Stops ICON COVID Vaccine Study, Company Suspends New Enrollments

ICON has suspended its COVID vaccine study due to a stop work notice from BARDA. The company has halted all new participant screening and dosing, but those already enrolled will continue to receive the vaccine. The reason for the suspension was not disclosed.

ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a global provider of outsourced research services, has announced the suspension of its COVID-19 vaccine study following a stop work notice from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The company has ceased all screening and dosing activities for new participants in the trial, effective immediately. However, those already enrolled in the study will continue to receive follow-up care as per the study protocol.

ICON's decision to suspend the trial comes after receiving a stop work order from BARDA. The company has not disclosed the specific reason for the suspension. The halt in new participant screening and dosing is expected to impact ICON's revenue for the second half of 2025. However, the company has stated that there is no change to its financial guidance for the full year 2025.

ICON's stock price reacted to the news, with shares falling by 3.5% in after-hours trading. Despite the setback, ICON has maintained its full-year revenue guidance of $8 billion, signaling a commitment to its broader research and development initiatives.

ICON's COVID-19 vaccine study was a significant project, with the company expecting to generate substantial revenue from the trial. The suspension of the study may have implications for the company's financial performance in the near term, but ICON has reassured investors that the full-year outlook remains unchanged.

For more details on ICON's financial performance, investors can refer to the company's Q2 2025 earnings call transcript and other financial reports. [1]

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4484623-icon-suspends-covid-vaccine-study-after-barda-notice