Eli Lilly Projects 20 New Product Launches in 10 Years with 20 Possible Expansions
May 24, 2016
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company is on a roll, announcing today that between 2014 and 2023, it may launch 20 new products.
The products are spread across five therapeutic areas, diabetes, oncology, immunology, neurodegeneration, and Lilly’s new area, pain. Today’s presentation focused on all of those except neurodegeneration.
“We’re pleased to share with investors the breadth and depth of the Lilly pipeline, which showcases our progress across our key therapeutic areas,” said John Lechleiter, Lilly’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “This includes recent launches as well as a robust lineup of assets in late-stage development or already under regulatory review. There are no guarantees given the nature of science and of our business; however, in looking at our recent launches and current pipeline, we believe we are in the midst of the most prolific period of new launches in our company’s 140-year history.”
In addition to the launches specified, the company indicated it could launch, on average, two new indications or line extensions for already-approved products each year during the same period.
In the diabetes space, the company’s research-and-development efforts will focus on differentiated therapeutics and delivery devices in glucose control, metabolic control and end-organ protection. The company indicates it plans “to combine its strong in-house diabetes R&D capabilities with a comprehensive external network to delivery continued innovation in this important area of therapy.”
In oncology, its research focuses on tumor cell signaling, tumor microenvironment, and immuno-oncology. Lilly indicated in the immuno-oncology space it plans to have five differentiated compounds in clinical testing by the of this year and up to 11 by the end of 2018. It’s assets across all lines include Cyramza (ramucirumab), Portrazza (necitumumab), olaratumab and abemaciclib. On May 4, the FDA granted Priority Review for Lilly’s biologics license application (BLA) for olaratumab to treat soft tissue sarcoma.
In the immunology arena, Lilly recently launched Taltz (ixekizumab) and has submitted baricitinib for regulatory review. Taltz is now available in the U.S. to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
In the neurodegeneration area, Lilly has seven molecules in human testing for Alzheimer’s disease. On April 8, the company indicated it was continuing its Phase III trial of AZD3293, an oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor that it is developing with AstraZeneca . After preliminary safety data, an independent data monitoring committee recommended the trial continue without modification.
Pain treatment is dubbed an emerging research area, and focuses on non-opioid treatment for chronic pain. The company cited galcanezumab (CGRP Ab) for cluster headache and migraine, and tanezumab for osteoarthritis pain, chronic lower back pain and cancer pain in partnership with Pfizer .
“We have improved the productivity and success of our pipeline through discrete actions aimed at enhancing focus, quality and speed, and by positioning ourselves as an attractive partner for external innovation opportunities,” said Jan Lundberg, executive vice president of science and technology and president of Lily Research Laboratories, in a statement. “These improvements have led to the potential for unprecedented R&D output.”