Lilly,Sanford-Burnham Enter Immunological R&D Alliance

Eli Lilly and Co. and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute will collaborate to discover and develop immunological therapies using biotechnology approaches targeting multiple immune checkpoint modulators for the treatment of diseases such as lupus, Sjögren’s Syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune disorders.
 
Lilly will contribute its biotechnology capabilities and expertise in immunology, and Sanford-Burnham will apply its expertise in cellular pathways regulating the immune system focusing on the immune checkpoint networks. The research collaboration will be co-chaired by Thomas F. Bumol, Ph.D., senior vice president, biotechnology and immunology research at Lilly, and Carl Ware, Ph.D., director, Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Center at Sanford-Burnham.
 
“Immunology is an important research area of focus for Lilly, and through this exciting collaboration with Sanford-Burnham, our scientists can discover and develop new medicines together in a seamless way that takes advantage of each group in a family of key targets,” said Dr. Bumol.
 
“The Lilly-Sanford-Burnham collaboration is precedent setting in scope and its potential to advance discoveries to the patient more efficiently,” said Sanford-Burnham chief executive officer Perry Nisen, M.D., Ph.D. “By combining the deep knowledge of human biology and disease mechanisms among Sanford-Burnham scientists, in particular our expertise in the field of checkpoint regulators in the immune system, and Lilly’s leadership position in the development of biologics and large molecules, we are forging the path to develop the next generation of transformative treatments for autoimmune disease.”