BOSTON, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PAREXEL International Corporation (Nasdaq: PRXL), a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, today announced that the Company has been named the "Best Contract Research Organization (CRO)" by Scrip World Pharmaceutical News. The award was presented to PAREXEL at the fourth annual Scrip Awards ceremony held on December 10, 2008 in London, England. The Scrip Awards are designed to celebrate innovation and a continued commitment to improving healthcare worldwide.

According to Philip Jarvis, Publisher of Scrip World Pharmaceutical News, "The Scrip Award for the Best CRO, which was evaluated by an independent panel of judges, recognizes the crucial role that PAREXEL has played in drug development and managing all aspects of clinical trials. PAREXEL has demonstrated its excellence based on the full range of services the Company provides and the quality of the relationships it has built with clients. The Scrip Award recognizes PAREXEL for its consistent achievements in exceeding client expectations, the truly global nature of the Company, and its positive impact on advancing worldwide healthcare."

"PAREXEL is honored to be chosen as the Best Contract Research Organization by the judges of the Scrip Awards," said Josef von Rickenbach, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PAREXEL International. "We have a deep commitment to expanding partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies to help drive innovation in product development and bring important new treatments to market to benefit the lives of current and future generations worldwide. This great recognition was possible through the continued support of our employees, clients, and partners. We look forward to continuing to help the industry in preventing and curing disease."

For over 25 years, PAREXEL has been a proven and committed partner to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies looking to bring innovative new products to market. PAREXEL has extensive experience in providing comprehensive worldwide services to companies of all sizes. With deep expertise and capabilities in consulting, clinical research, eClinical technologies, and medical communications, PAREXEL has helped drive the success of thousands of its clients' development programs, and has assisted clients in getting their products to patients in need.

Established in 1976, Scrip World Pharmaceutical News (http://www.scripnews.com) is a leading source of global news in the pharmaceutical industry.

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 52 countries around the world, and has over 9,180 employees. For more information about PAREXEL International visit http://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; 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, 2008 as filed with the SEC on November 7, 2008, 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.

    Contacts:
    Jennifer Baird,                        Rebecca Passo
    Senior Director of Public Relations
    PAREXEL International                  SHIFT Communications
    Tel: +781-434-4409                     Tel: +617-779-1817
    Email: Jennifer.Baird@PAREXEL.com      Email: rpasso@shiftcomm.com

SOURCE PAREXEL International Corporation