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news.Isis Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly are to extend their drug discovery collaboration for approximately two more years as the initial four year deal comes to an end. The companies will continue to collaborate on mutually agreed targets for the duration of the collaboration extension.
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Isis and Lilly will continue to advance antisense drugs identified during the previous collaboration, and continue their efforts to develop and refine antisense technologies. During the extension, Isis scientists will be supported by collaboration funds.
As part of the extension, the companies have agreed to add a second-generation antisense inhibitor to Lilly’s cancer drug discovery and development portfolio. The drug, known as STAT-3, is a protein that regulates cell division and growth, and prevents cell death.
Isis will be entitled to receive milestones and royalties as this drug moves through various stages of development. This adds to the two other antisense oncology drugs in development at Lilly.
“We have benefited from our collaboration with Lilly and together the companies have advanced the technology. Lilly has several antisense drug candidates derived from the collaboration that are in or approaching clinical trials. The goal of this extension is to continue identifying additional candidates for the Lilly pipeline,” said Dr Stanley Crooke, chairman and chief executive officer of Isis Pharmaceuticals.