Lilly, AZ Enter Alzheimer’s Alliance

Eli Lilly and Co. and AstraZeneca have entered an agreement to co-develop and commercialize AZD3293, an oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor in development as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
 
The progression of AD is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is associated with the enzyme BACE. Inhibiting BACE is expected to prevent the formation of amyloid plaque and eventually slow the progression of the disease. AZD3293 has been shown to reduce levels of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer’s patients and healthy volunteers.
 
AZ will receive as much as $500 million in development and regulatory milestones. Lilly will recognize the initial milestone of $50 million as a charge to earnings in 3Q14. The companies aim to progress AZD3293 into a Phase II/III trial in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Lilly will lead clinical development, working with AZ researchers, and AZ will be responsible for manufacturing. The companies will take joint responsibility for commercialization and will share future costs as well as global revenues.
 
“Lilly has been committed to research in Alzheimer’s disease for more than 25 years, and we’re dedicated to developing new medicines that can change and modify the course of this devastating disease,” said David Ricks, Lilly senior vice president and president, Lilly Bio-Medicines. “Lilly’s pipeline of potential medicines and diagnostic agents targeting the known hallmarks of the disease has been bolstered today by this alliance with AstraZeneca, a strong strategic partner who shares our passion to bring new medicines to patients suffering from this debilitating illness. This alliance moves us one step closer to achieving our goal of making Alzheimer’s dementia preventable by 2025.”
 
“Alzheimer’s disease is one of the biggest challenges facing medical science today and BACE inhibitors have the potential to target one of the key drivers of disease progression. We are looking forward to working with Lilly, a company with a long term commitment to and expertise in treating Alzheimer’s disease,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president, Innovative Medicines & Early Development at AstraZeneca. “We believe that, by combining the scientific expertise from our two organizations and by sharing the risks and cost of late-stage development, we will be able to accelerate the advancement of AZD3293 and progress a promising new approach to support the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients around the world.