Optum and Syneos Health partner to advance an adaptive Clinical Development model. Partnership Will Transform How Clinical Development is Designed and Executed MORRISVILLE, N.C., Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Syneos Health(R) today announced a partnership with Optum to build a more adaptive and connected model for clinical development, helping biopharmaceutical companies deliver promising therapies to patients sooner. The collaboration will bring together Optum's healthcare industry knowledge, specialized expertise and AI resources with Syneos Health's clinical development expertise, global trial operations and technology solutions. The resulting model is designed to strengthen development strategies and execute more precise, efficient trials by improving recruitment and trial performance, reducing operational complexity and enhancing predictability across development timelines and costs. Under the agreement, Syneos Health and Optum will partner closely in the development of: * Adaptive clinical development planning to enable development teams to simulate trial scenarios, evaluate protocol assumptions, identify possible risks and assess interventions before and during trial implementation. * Patient, site and investigator access to help clinical trial sponsors more easily identify eligible patient populations to expand patient access and optimize locations so trials can begin faster. Syneos Health will be Optum's preferred partner for the development of their site management organization (SMO). * Data, technology and governance infrastructure to responsibly scale these improvements while maintaining rigorous standards for scientific validation, privacy, evidence traceability and human oversight. "Clinical development is at an inflection point. The future belongs to organizations that can connect data, human expertise and AI technology to make better decisions faster," said Costa Panagos, Chief Executive Officer of Syneos Health. "Our collaboration with Optum brings deep healthcare expertise that can help improve trial design and implementation with greater precision and predictability." "Clinical research is one of the most complex and data-intensive activities in healthcare, yet necessary connections are fragmented all too often," said Sandeep Dadlani, Chief Executive Officer of Optum Insight. "By connecting our responsible use of technology and network with Syneos Health's global clinical development capabilities, we can make the health system work better for everyone." This announcement builds on Syneos Health's broader commitment to shape the future of clinical development. As part of its AI ecosystem, the Company continues to invest in technologies and collaborations that enhance decision-making, streamline execution and unlock new value from clinical and real-world data. Recent initiatives have included expanding agentic solutions that connect insights, workflows and expertise across operations. About Syneos Health Syneos Health(R) is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization built to accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, commercial and real world insights into outcomes to address modern market realities. We bring together a talented team of professionals with a deep understanding of patient and physician behaviors and market dynamics. Together we share diverse insights, use the latest technologies and apply advanced business practices to speed our customers' delivery of important therapies to patients. Syneos Health is powered by an authentic, inclusive and high-performance culture that cares for colleagues, customers, patients, communities and the environment. About Optum Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 310,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). For more information, visit www.optum.com. Press/Media Contact: Meg Byers Director, External Communications [email protected]

Teletrac Navman appoints Sara Epstein to senior leadership role. Reading Time: 2 mins read Teletrac Navman has appointed Sara Epstein as chief legal and administrative officer as the connected mobility business enters its next phase of growth. Epstein brings more than 20 years of legal and executive leadership experience across sectors including healthcare, life sciences, pharmacy and logistics. She will oversee Teletrac Navman's legal, compliance, data privacy and governance functions, along with People and Culture and Health and Safety. Epstein was previously chief legal officer at pharmacy benefits company RxBenefits and executive vice president and deputy general counsel at Syneos Health, where she led a global team responsible for legal and privacy services. She has also held senior legal roles at Cotiviti Holdings and BlueLinx Holdings and was an associate at international law firm Jones Day. Teletrac Navman President and chief executive Alain Samaha says Epstein's experience will support the company's strategic and growth plans. "Sara brings a powerful combination of legal acumen, business judgment and executive leadership that will help accelerate our strategic initiatives and support our long-term growth," Samaha says. "Her experience leading global teams and navigating complex business environments will be instrumental as we continue to drive innovation, strengthen our customer relationships and execute on our growth ambitions. We're thrilled to welcome her to the team." The appointment follows Teletrac Navman's acquisition by Respida Capital earlier this year and a series of product developments, including the launch of Energy Hub within its TN360 fleet management platform and the company's Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System. "I'm excited to join Teletrac Navman at such an important time in the company's evolution," Epstein says. "The organisation has a strong foundation, a talented global team, and a clear vision for growth. I look forward to working across the business to support our strategic priorities and contribute to the next chapter of Teletrac Navman's success." Epstein holds a Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School and a bachelor's degree from Tufts University.

Madhuri Raya joins Syneos Health as Global Head, AI & Engineering and Technology Capability Center. Hyderabad, Telangana, India, August 2026 - Syneos Health has appointed Madhuri Raya as Global Head, AI & Engineering and Technology Capability Center, strengthening its technology leadership as the organisation accelerates its AI-enabled strategy. In her new mandate, Raya will focus on scaling engineering capabilities behind Syneos Health's growing AI ecosystem and helping translate technology innovation into practical solutions for biopharmaceutical development. Raya brings more than two decades of experience across software engineering, product engineering, cloud-native technologies, AI/ML-enabled solutions and global engineering leadership. She joins Syneos Health after a long tenure with Optum, where she most recently served as Vice President of Software Engineering. During more than eight years with the organisation, she progressed through senior technology leadership positions, including Director of Product Engineering and Senior Director - Product Engineering. Before Optum, Raya spent more than five years with UnitedHealth Group, serving as Engineering Manager and subsequently Senior Engineering Manager. These roles added to her experience in leading engineering organisations within the healthcare ecosystem and managing increasingly complex technology responsibilities. Earlier in her career, Raya spent more than a decade with the Robert Bosch Research and Technology Center. She worked initially as a Software Engineer before progressing to Senior Research Engineer, a position she held for more than seven years. This foundation in software engineering and research, followed by leadership roles across healthcare technology and product engineering, has shaped a career spanning technical innovation and large-scale engineering management. At Syneos Health, Raya joins at a time when the company is expanding the role of AI and technology across its operations. Her mandate will center on strengthening the engineering capabilities supporting this strategy, bringing together AI, engineering and technology delivery to improve agility, precision and intelligence in addressing customer challenges. She is an alumna of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani). Syneos Health is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organisation focused on accelerating customer success. The company combines clinical, commercial and real-world insights to help address evolving market needs and support the delivery of therapies to patients. Its professionals bring together knowledge of patient and physician behaviours, market dynamics, technology and advanced business practices. Syneos Health positions technology and cross-functional expertise as important enablers in helping customers advance the development and commercialisation of therapies.