FORM 6-K


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549


Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month ended November, 2008


ICON plc
(Registrant's name)


0-29714
(Commission file number)


South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

              Yes___X___                                   No_______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

              Yes______                                    No___X___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

              Yes______                                    No___X___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

              Yes_______                                   No___X___

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82      N/A


EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit

 

Description

 

99.1

Icon plc Press Release



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ICON plc

 
 
 

 

Date:

November 18, 2008

/s/ Ciaran Murray

Ciaran Murray

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

Lilly Selects ICON to Manage its Clinical Data Management Business Outside the US

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 18, 2008--

Lilly Selects ICON to Manage its Clinical Data Management Business Outside the US

Strategic Agreement Spans More Than 36 Countries

Dublin, Ireland, November 18th, 2008 – ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR; ISIN:IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) to manage the company’s clinical data management business outside the United States. The agreement, which spans more than three dozen countries, excluding the United States and Japan, will help to transform Lilly’s research and development organisation as they seek to drive productivity, gain speed to market and lower drug development costs.

“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in the relationship between ICON and Lilly,” commented Peter Gray, CEO at ICON. “We have been working together in an innovative partnership approach to the outsourcing relationship, and the decision to move this important business function to ICON is based on our proven ability to meet project deadlines whilst driving process efficiencies. We look forward to building on this initiative and to helping Lilly realise its vision of a networked business model.”

"Lilly is eager to leverage ICON’s substantial, scalable clinical data management capabilities around the globe. Through this agreement, we take another significant step in our ongoing agenda to increase flexibility, reduce fixed cost, and focus internal resources on core capabilities,” said Jeff Kasher, Lilly’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Clinical Development.

About ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specializes in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON teams have successfully conducted over 5,500 development projects and consultancy engagements across all major therapeutic areas. ICON currently has over 6,600 employees, operating from 71 locations in 38 countries.

Further information is available at www.iconplc.com.

About Lilly

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers – through medicines and information – for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.

CONTACT:
Icon PLC
Ciaran Murray
CFO
+353-1-2912000
IR@iconplc.com