Virtual Radiologic, the country's biggest teleradiology provider, said Monday it inked a deal with contract research organization Icon Medical Imaging for its radiologists to interpret images for drug clinical trials.

vRad, based in Eden Prairie Min., said the first trial involving its radiologists began last month.

"The partnership with Icon is a significant milestone for vRad," Rob Kill, the company's CEO, said in a statement.

Drug companies often need outside radiologists to read images to determine if patients are eligible for studies or for trials with imaging endpoints. The business is increasingly attractive to radiologists, too. For instance, recently, a California-based imaging group that lost an important hospital contract teamed up with a software firm to make up for its lost income with new business among drug companies.

Icon Medical Imaging is a division of Icon plc., which runs clinical trials and exploratory studies for pharmaceutical companies. Its global headquarters is in Dublin.

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