Today's news shows some possible competition looming from far away...
Pharmagenesis, Lilly Sign Research Agreement to
Develop Antifungal Drugs Eli Lilly Alliance With
EcoPharm Unit Aimed at Antimycotics From
Plant-Linked Microbes
Source: PR Newswire
PALO ALTO, Calif., and INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ via Individual
Inc. -- Pharmagenesis, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today
announced a research and development agreement aimed at isolating and
developing antifungal agents derived from microorganisms associated with plants
known to be resistant to fungal infections.
Under the agreement, the EcoPharm division of Pharmagenesis will isolate the
plant-associated microorganisms and, from them, biological compounds that
demonstrate antifungal activity. Lilly will be responsible for preclinical and
clinical development of lead compounds from the collaboration.
Pharmagenesis will receive research support and milestone payments, and retains
all antifungal product rights in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore,
Macau, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Lilly will retain the antifungal
product rights for all other parts of the world. In addition, Lilly will retain all
other product rights to applications for cardiovascular diseases, CNS diseases,
cancer, infectious diseases, and hormonal disorders discovered from the
plant-associated microorganisms isolated by EcoPharm.
One of the fastest growing segments of the global pharmaceutical market, the need
for cost-effective antifungal drugs has been driven by the AIDS epidemic, the
growth in organ transplantation, and the aggressive treatment of malignancies --
all of which suppress the immune system. According to Drug and Market
Development, the anti-fungal market is foreseen to grow from $3 billion today to
$5 billion by the year 2000.
"Pharmagenesis has taken an innovative approach to commercializing
plant-derived pharmaceuticals, not only from the plant itself, but from associated
microorganisms," said Allan Weinstein, M.D., vice president of Lilly Research
Laboratories. "We look forward to a productive collaboration with the company's
EcoPharm division."
"Our corporate alliance with Lilly is a natural outgrowth of EcoPharm's mission
to target plants with demonstrated antifungal activity," said Robert H. Tidwell,
vice president and general manager of Pharmagenesis. "The collaboration is a
valuable complement to Pharmagenesis' core business of developing
pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals from the medicinal plants used in traditional
Chinese medicine."
Located in Bozeman, Montana, EcoPharm was formed around the work and
facilities of Montana State University. In 1992, Gary Strobel, Ph.D., EcoPharm's
chief scientific consultant and professor of plant pathology at the University,
discovered the anti-cancer drug Taxol could be produced by fungi. These fungi
live in a close, symbiotic association with the Pacific Yew tree, the original source
of the anticancer agent. His laboratory found the tree provides nutrients to the
fungi, which in turn produce chemicals (one of which is the anti-cancer agent) that
help protect the plant from pathogens and other environmental hazards. Today, the
University provides advanced plant-growth capabilities and the country's only
non-federal plant-quarantine facility, giving Pharmagenesis the opportunity to
study a wide variety of plants from around the world.
Microorganisms have long been an important source of drug products. Antibiotics
such as penicillins and cephalosporins are derived from microorganisms. In
addition, it is estimated that 25 percent of all pharmaceuticals in the Western
world are derived directly or indirectly from plants. Besides Taxol, other major
plant-derived drugs include pilocarpine for treating glaucoma, quinine for
malaria, and theophylline for asthma. The once standard cardiovascular medicines
digoxin and reserpine originated from plants, as did the anticancer drugs
vincristine and vinblastine.
Lilly is a global research-based pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in
Indianapolis, Ind., dedicated to creating and delivering superior health care
solutions by combining pharmaceutical innovations, existing pharmaceutical
technology, disease prevention and management, and information technologies --
in order to provide customers worldwide with optimal clinical and economic
outcomes.
Pharmagenesis, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., develops novel pharmaceuticals and
nutra-ceuticals derived from herbal remedies employed in traditional Chinese
medicine, a tradition that spans over 4,000 years of use. Established in 1991, the
privately held company is focused on treatments for cancer therapy-related
bone-marrow suppression and for the management of transplant rejection.
Through its operations in Beijing, Suzhou, and Taipei, these and other products
are being commercialized initially in the high-growth markets of China and
Taiwan.
SOURCE Pharmagenesis, Inc.
/CONTACT: Charles Versaggi, Ph.D., of Versaggi Biocommunications,
415-547-1320, for Pharmagenesis; or Robert H. Tidwell, Vice President, General
Manager of Pharmagenesis, Inc., 415-842-7060; or Amy Magan, Media Relations
of Eli Lilly and Co., 317-276-6337/ (LLY)
[11-07-96 at 07:58 EST, PR Newswire] |
