ITEM 8.01 Other Events.

On April 20, 2009 ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing the results of preclinical studies in support of the ongoing clinical evaluation of its oral investigational mTOR inhibitor, deforolimus, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and certain other solid tumors. These findings, which are being presented by scientists from ARIAD's partner, Merck & Co., Inc., at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), provide further evidence of mTOR as a validated cancer target with potential clinical applicability in several different tumor types.

A copy of the press release is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and this information contained therein is incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.