Lilly to buy Alnara Pharmaceuticals
Gains access to cystic fibrosis treatment liprotamase
Eli Lilly is to acquire Alnara, a privately held biotechnology company developing protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Alnara's lead product in development is liprotamase, a non-porcine pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). Liprotamase is under review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Causes of EPI include cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy and other conditions.
No financial details have been released.
Bryce Carmine, executive president of Lilly and president of Lilly BioMedicines, said: ‘The acquisition of Alnara provides Lilly with a promising entry into enzyme replacement therapy – an area with unmet medical needs – as well as opportunities for novel compounds that give patients additional treatment options.’
Alexey Margolin, chief executive of Alnara, added: ‘Lilly's deep expertise in the US pharmaceutical business, including regulatory affairs and the development of innovative compounds that address unmet medical needs, created a natural fit and could allow for opportunities in markets beyond cystic fibrosis.’
If approved, liprotamase will allow many patients to use significantly fewer pills compared with current treatment options. Because it is not derived from a porcine source, liprotamase could provide the added benefit for patients of reduction in the risk of viral exposure. A paediatric formulation of liprotamase also is in development.
