Eli Lilly & Company (Lilly) is a global pharmaceutical company, developing therapies for various diseases.
Lilly was first company to mass-produce penicillin and was also, one of the first to produce human insulin using rDNA technology. In 2019 Lilly created Loxo Oncology at Lilly, with the goal of rapidly delivering impactful new medicines for people with cancer.
- In Jan 2021, Merus N.V. (NASDAQ: MRUS), signed an exclusive license agreement with Loxo Oncology (part of Lilly) that leverage Merus’ proprietary Biclonics® platform, to research and develop up to three CD3-engaging T-cell re-directing bispecific antibody therapies. Under the terms, Merus to lead discovery and early stage research activities while Loxo Oncology at Lilly will be responsible for additional research, development and commercialization activities. Merus received an upfront cash payment of $40 Mn, as well as $20 Mn in an equity investment and is eligible to receive up to $540 Mn in potential development and commercialization milestones per product, for a total of up to approx $1.6 billion for three products, as well as tiered royalties.
- In Jan 2021, Lilly entered into a research collaboration with Blacksmith Medicines, Inc. to discover up to 5 human metalloenzyme targets utilizing Blacksmith’s metalloenzyme platform to create new immuno-oncology. Under the terms, Blacksmith to advance novel small molecule inhibitors from fragment to ‘hit’ stage after which Lilly has the right to continue research, development, and commercialization. Blacksmith will receive an upfront payment and an investment from Lilly in exchange for a convertible note and will be eligible for up to approx $60 Mn per target in potential research, development and commercial milestones for a total potential deal size up to approx. $300 Mn.
- In Nov 2020, Seed Therapeutics entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly to discover and develop new chemical entities that could produce therapeutic benefit through targeted protein degradation (TPD). Under the terms, Seed Therapeutics received a $10 Mn in upfront and $10 Mn in equity investment from Lilly. Seed Therapeutics will also be eligible to receive up to approx. $780 Mn in potential pre-clinical and clinical development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales of products that result from the collaboration.
- In Oct 2020, Eli Lilly and Company obtained an exclusive rights from Fochon Pharmaceuticals, to develop and commercialize FCN-338, a selective small-molecule BCL-2 inhibitor targeting hematological malignancies. in all countries and regions excluding Mainland China and Hong Kong. Under the terms, Lilly paid an upfront payment of $40 Mn and up to $400 Mn in potential development and commercial milestones, as well as mid-to-high single-digit royalty payments on net sales in the Lilly territories.
- In Aug 2020, Lilly and Innovent Biologics announced a global expansion of their strategic alliance for TYVYT® (sintilimab injection), whereby Lilly obtained an exclusive license for TYVYT® (sintilimab injection) for geographies outside of China and plans to pursue registration of TYVYT® (sintilimab injection) in the U.S. and other markets.
- In April 2019, Lilly and Avidity Biosciences, Inc. signed global licensing and research collaboration focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of potential new medicines in immunology and other select indications. Lilly will utilize Avidity’s platform to combine the tissue selectivity of monoclonal antibodies and the precision of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Avidity to receive an upfront payment of $20 Mn and an investment of $15 Mn. Also, Avidity is eligible to receive up to approx. $405 Mn per target in development and commercialization milestones, plus royalties.
- In Feb 2019, Bayer obtained full rights to global development and commercialization of oncology compounds Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib) and BAY 2731954 (LOXO-195). Both compounds are designed for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with advanced solid tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions. The option was triggered by the acquisition of Loxo Oncology by Lilly.
- In Nov 2018, Eli Lilly and Company and NextCure signed multi-year collaboration to discover novel cancer targets utilizing NextCure’s proprietary FIND-IO™ platform. Under the terms, Lilly and NextCure will each receive options to exclusively license antibodies resulting from the collaboration. NextCure received an upfront payment of $25 Mn, and will be eligible for development and commercial milestones and royalty payments. Additionally, Lilly made a $15 Mn equity investment in NextCure.
- In July 2018, Anima Biotech and Lilly signed collaboration for the discovery and development of translation inhibitors for several target proteins by using Anima’s Translation Control Therapeutics platform. The multi-year agreement is structured as an exclusive collaboration around several undisclosed Lilly targets. Anima will use its technology platform to discover lead candidates that are translation inhibitors of the Lilly targets. Lilly will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization of products resulting from the collaboration. Under the terms, Anima received $30 Mn in upfront payments and $14 Mn in research funding. Anima is also eligible to receive up to $1.05 billion if all future development and commercial milestones are achieved.
- In Oct 2017, Lilly and CureVac AG, announce global Immuno-oncology collaboration aims to develop up to five mRNA cancer vaccines that target neoantigens across multiple tumor types. Under the terms, CureVac received an upfront payment of $50 Mn and an equity investment of €45 Mn. CureVac is also eligible to receive more than $1.7 billion in development and commercialization milestones if all five vaccines are successfully developed, plus tiered royalties on product sales. Lilly is responsible for target identification, clinical development and commercialization.
- In July 2017, Loxo Oncology (now part of Lilly) acquired Redx Pharma the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor program including lead candidate LOXO-305 (formerly RXC005) in $40 Mn USD. Loxo Oncology is not subject to milestone or royalty obligations.
- In June 2015, Lilly and Immunocore signed an immunotherapy-based clinical trial collaboration to explore the utility of Immunocore’s lead T cell receptor-based investigational therapeutic, IMCgp100, in combination with Lilly’s galunisertib (LY2157299) and merestinib (LY2801653) for the treatment of melanoma.
- In May 2015, Lilly and BioNTech AG, collaborate to identify and validate novel tumor targets and their corresponding T cell receptors (TCRs) in one or more types of cancer. These tumor targets and TCRs may then be engineered and developed into potent and selective cancer therapies. Under the terms, BioNTech received a $30 Mn signing fee and for each potential medicine, BioNTech could receive over $300 Mn in development, regulatory and commercial milestones along with double-digits royalties. In addition, subject to the terms of the agreement, Lilly will make a $30 Mn equity investment in BioNTech’s subsidiary, Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, which specializes in the research and development of TCR and chimeric antigen receptor immunotherapeutics.
- In May 2015, Lilly and AstraZeneca entered into a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of AstraZeneca’s investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with CYRAMZA® (ramucirumab).
- In Mar 2015, Innovent Biologics entered into a strategic collaboration with Lilly focused on biological medicine. Under the agreement, Innovent and Lilly are co-developing and commercializing oncology medicines, including TYVYT® (sintilimab injection) in China. In October 2015, the two companies announced the extension of their existing collaboration to include co-development of three additional oncology antibodies targeting oncology indications. Earlier as per terms, Innovent received a total upfront payment of $56 Mn and Lilly could also issue future payments exceeding $400 Mn for the pre-clinical immuno-oncology molecule if the product reaches certain development, regulatory and sales milestones.
- In Sep 2014, Denovo Biopharma acquired all global rights of enzastaurin (now DB102) from Eli Lilly. Financial terms remains undisclosed. Lilly developed enzastaurin in a variety of indications, and finally gave up on the compound after a Phase III trial for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) did not meet the primary endpoint in the maintenance setting. Presently Denovo is further testing the drug in a biomarker-guided population in an ongoing DLBCL Phase 3 trial and in Phase 2 GBM trials.
- In 2014, Zymework granted non exclusive rights to Lilly subsidiary ImClone Systems to develop Bi-specific antibodies using Zymeworks’ Azymetric™ platform to develop and commercialize an undisclosed number of bi-specific therapeutic candidates toward Lilly’s therapeutic targets including cancer.
- In Oct 2013, Hutchison China MediTech (Nasdaq:HCM) entered into a co-development and commercialization agreement in China with Lilly for Fruquintinib, a small molecule that selectively inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (presently in Ph III development). Under the terms, development costs of fruquintinib, carried out by Chi-Med, to be shared equally. Chi-Med to receive upfront payments, development and regulatory approval milestone payments; and is also eligible to receive royalties.
- In 2009, Imclone (now part of Eli Lilly) acquired rights of Ramucirumab from Dyax Corporation.
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