Lilly Inks Development, Study Agreements

(Image Courtesy: Lilly Oncology)

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) has announced details of two partnerships. Innovent Biologics Inc. in China and Lilly have expanded an existing drug development relationship and a new research collaboration with California-based ImaginAb Inc. involves preclinical studies of potential immuno-oncology therapies.

Under the Innovent agreement, Lilly will "opt-in" for co-development and commercialization, while the Chinese company will develop, manufacture and commercialize the potential cancer treatments in China. The deal involves up to three antibodies over the next ten years. It also includes financial incentives if the potential drugs reach certain milestones. You can read additional details by clicking here.

Lilly Vice President of Oncology Research Greg Plowman "we believe that combination therapy in immuno-oncology has the potential to transform the way cancer is treated. We are pleased to be expanding our collaboration with Innovent to further the development of potential therapies for those fighting cancer in China and around the world."

Lilly and ImaginAb’s partnership will focus on potential T-cell-based immuno-oncology cancer therapies. The agreement calls for ImaginAb to conduct research using an immune imaging agent involving T-cells in response to Lilly oncology molecules. The California company will maintain full rights to its imaging agents.

Plowman says this collaboration "demonstrates Lilly’s commitment to advancing biomarker-driven cancer therapies. ImaginAb has developed a highly specific and novel approach for visualizing a patient’s immune response, and we are excited to explore applications of this technology as part of our immuno-oncology drug development efforts." You can connect to additional information on the agreement by clicking here.