Lilly, AstraZeneca to team on Alzheimer’s treatment development

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly and Co. and AstraZeneca are teaming up to co-develop a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, the companies announced Friday. 

 

The focus of the initiative, which will see Lilly making an upfront payment of $30 million to AstraZeneca, is an antibody called MEDI1814, which can potentially slow the progression of the illness and is currently in Phase 1 trials. 

 

"At Lilly, we recognize the significant burden Alzheimer's disease places on patients, caregivers and our society, and we remain committed to finding ways to change the course of the disease," Lilly EVP science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories Jan Lundberg said. "We are pleased to be expanding our alliance with AstraZeneca to further build our pipeline of potential medicines and diagnostic agents. AstraZeneca brings capabilities and expertise and most importantly shares our passion to bring new medicines to patients suffering from this debilitating illness."

 

AstraZeneca’s EVP IMED biotech unit and business development, Mene Pangalos, said, "We are excited to build on an already productive collaboration with Lilly, which combines the expertise of our two companies, with a new program focused on the amyloid-beta pathway. MEDI1814 has a unique mechanism among antibodies in clinical development and could provide a distinct approach to treating Alzheimer's disease."