Leading Lymphoma Expert Joins Perceptive Informatics Team of Medical Imaging Scientific Advisors

BOSTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Perceptive Informatics, a leading eClinical solutions provider and a subsidiary of PAREXEL International Corporation (Nasdaq: PRXL), today announced that Bruce D. Cheson, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Head of Hematology and Director of Hematology Research at Georgetown University Hospital's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, has joined its Medical Imaging Scientific Advisor Team. Perceptive combines the expertise of its global medical imaging team with the specialized therapeutic area expertise of these advisors to help clients make better, more informed decisions regarding the best use of medical imaging and associated clinical data in their development programs.  

Dr. Cheson, who currently chairs the Lymphoma Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B and AJCC Subcommittee on Lymphoma, is an author on the widely accepted assessment criteria for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) (1999 and 2007 IWG-NHL) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) (1996 NCI-WG and 2008 IWCLL), which are standardized guidelines for assessing response to treatment. The guidelines provide clinicians worldwide with consistent criteria to compare and interpret clinical trials in these treatment indications and facilitate the development of new therapies.

"Perceptive is extremely pleased to have Dr. Cheson join our team of medical imaging scientific advisors. We believe that Dr. Cheson's in-depth, specialized expertise and focus on development and evaluation of new therapeutic approaches for hematologic malignancies will be of value to our clients in their imaging-based oncology and hematology clinical trials," said Kenneth G. Faulkner, Ph.D., Vice President of Medical Imaging, Perceptive Informatics.

"With lymphoma being the most common blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer, an overall goal is to improve therapies for patients with lymphoma. I am pleased to be affiliated with Perceptive Informatics, which is a leader in the successful management of medical imaging in trials, and advancing medical imaging as an endpoint, or biomarker, in determining safety and efficacy of important new hematologic treatments," said Dr. Cheson. "I look forward to contributing my knowledge to Perceptive's clients in the application of the assessment criteria for NHL and CLL."

Dr. Cheson will co-present on the upcoming Perceptive webinar entitled "Understanding the Assessment Criteria for Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): History, Enhancements and Clarifications," to be held on January 28, 2010 in two sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. EST.  Dr. Cheson will be joined by another scientific advisor to Perceptive Informatics: Matthew A. Barish, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Co-Director of Body Imaging and Director of MRI at Stony Brook University Medical Center. While the assessment criteria are well accepted, the wide range of interpretations and applications continues to be a challenge in clinical trials where consistent assessment across sites is critical to the validity of the data. This webinar will offer clarifications for applying the revised criteria in clinical trials, with a particular emphasis on protocols and independent review analysis.  For registration and more information about this webinar visit: http://www.perceptive.com/News/Webinars/Webinar-Registration.html?webcast_id=81

The Medical Imaging Group of Perceptive Informatics offers a full range of capabilities in the application of imaging techniques from early clinical development through peri-approval studies. The medical imaging team operates globally and services a wide range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, rheumatology, cardiology, and endocrinology. Perceptive's medical imaging technologies are fully validated and in compliance with regulatory guidelines.

About Perceptive Informatics

Perceptive Informatics, a leading eClinical solutions provider and subsidiary of PAREXEL, is focused on helping customers to accelerate the product development process through innovation. The Perceptive Informatics industry-leading eClinical product portfolio is built on advanced technology that benefits from extensive medical and clinical expertise as well as a deep understanding of the regulatory environment. The portfolio includes Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) technologies, Medical Imaging, Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS), Electronic Data Capture (EDC), and Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes (ePRO). For more information about the integrated solutions in Perceptive's eClinical Suite visit: www.perceptive.com.

About PAREXEL International

PAREXEL International Corporation is a leading global biopharmaceutical services organization, providing a broad range of knowledge-based contract research, medical communications and consulting services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Committed to providing solutions that expedite time-to-market and peak-market penetration, PAREXEL has developed significant expertise across the development and commercialization continuum, from drug development and regulatory consulting to clinical pharmacology, clinical trials management, medical education and reimbursement. Perceptive Informatics, Inc., a subsidiary of PAREXEL, provides advanced technology solutions, including medical imaging, to facilitate the clinical development process. Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, PAREXEL operates in 71 locations throughout 50 countries around the world, and has approximately 9,200 employees. For more information about PAREXEL International visit www.PAREXEL.com.

This release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding future results and events. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "appears," "estimates," "projects," "targets," and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Important factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: actual operating performance; actual expense savings and other operating improvements resulting from recent restructurings, including the anticipated restructuring charge of approximately $30 million over the second and third quarters of  Fiscal Year 2010; the loss, modification, or delay of contracts which would, among other things, adversely impact the Company's recognition of revenue included in backlog; the Company's dependence on certain industries and clients; the Company's ability to win new business, manage growth and costs, and attract and retain employees; the Company's ability to complete additional acquisitions and to integrate newly acquired businesses or enter into new lines of business, including, but not limited to, the successful business integration and anticipated synergy achievements in connection with the ClinPhone acquisition; the impact on the Company's business of government regulation of the drug, medical device and biotechnology industry; consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry and competition within the biopharmaceutical services industry; the potential for significant liability to clients and third parties; the potential adverse impact of health care reform; and the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and other international economic, political, and other risks. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as filed with the SEC on November 6, 2009, which "Risk Factors" discussion is incorporated by reference in this press release. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's estimates as of the date of this release. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

PAREXEL is a registered trademark of PAREXEL International Corporation, and Perceptive Informatics is a trademark of Perceptive Informatics, Inc. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of PAREXEL International Corporation, Perceptive Informatics, Inc. or their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

SOURCE PAREXEL International Corporation