Lilly inks data management deal with Icon

Icon has won a contract to handle Eli Lilly's clinical data management business outside the United States. The agreement spans more than three dozen countries but excludes the U.S. and Japan. Ireland-based Icon provides outsourced development services to the pharma, biotech medical device industries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move is part of Lilly's ongoing strategy to have outside contractors pick up some of the company's work. In December 2007, the company said it planned to outsource half of its research activities by 2010. Lilly claims outsourcing its data management activities will help therapies get to market faster and lower drug development costs.

"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 COO of Global Clinical Development.

- see Icon's release

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