The SRGN compound is DAB-IL-2 which is a diptheria conjugate with interleukin-2. The interleukin-2 binds to its receptor on the surface of the cell, and the toxin kills the cell. The drug will be before the FDA soon (the application for approval has been accepted for review for the treatment of CTCL, one of the indications for Targretin). The drug is also being tested on psoriasis, but LLY does not have rights to that indication.
The identification of the drug was actually quite simple. SRGN representatives were at one of the fall conferences (Robbie Stephens?), even though they had no presentations. They were also talking to LGND. The fusion protein was for psoriasis and CTCL, the same as Targretin, and LLY had the rights to CTCL. The market is relatively small, making it less interesting to LLY.
The compound could be approved in the next few months and could help LGND's bottom line in 1999 (and contribute toward that $0.84 profit and $131.5 million in income). However, there were some serious side effects associated with the drug and I suspect that some significant raining is required for administration. Therefore, a quick profit may not be as possible as originally assumed.
I suspect that treatment may be expensive, which could help justify a high prices for Targretin, and LGND could have three cancer treatments (oral and topical Targretin as well as DAB-IL-2), for a single disease, which is probably more than any one company anywhere. |
