Scios and Lilly Extend Agreement for Alzheimer's
Disease Research
INDIANAPOLIS and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY - news)
and Scios Inc. (Nasdaq: SCIO - news) today announced the extension of the companies' research collaboration in the area of
Alzheimer's disease. The new agreement will provide additional research funding to Scios. The collaborative research
partnership was established in April 1997, and this extension provides for its continuation at least through April 2001.
The goal of the partnership continues to be to produce pharmaceuticals that prevent or retard the progression of Alzheimer's
disease. One aspect of the collaboration has been the development of screening assays to identify compounds useful in the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Scios will continue development of these screening assays, in addition to research focusing on
other features of the disease.
''We are extremely pleased with the progress that our collaboration has made in this important area of research, both in terms
of the quality and quantity of data,'' said H. Christian Fibiger Ph.D., vice president neuroscience discovery research and clinical
investigation for Lilly. ''The combined strength of each companies' expertise in the field of Alzheimer's research has contributed
significantly to this collaboration. We look forward to future developments that will help us understand the mechanisms that
cause this debilitating disease. We are optimistic that this work will lead to drugs which will effectively treat or prevent
Alzheimer's disease.''
''Lilly has one of the premier neuroscience research programs in the world, and we are delighted to continue working with Lilly
in this important area,'' said John A. Lewicki, Ph.D., vice president of research at Scios. ''The collaboration has achieved
excellent progress to date toward the development of novel therapeutics for this major medical problem.''
Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will continue to fund research at Scios and will have the first opportunity to develop
products from this collaboration. Under certain circumstances, Scios has the opportunity to also develop products from the
collaboration. The commercializing partner will make milestone and royalty payments to the other partner. Additional financial
terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget
recent events or familiar tasks. Eventually, most people with Alzheimer's disease become unable to care for themselves.
According to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated four million Americans, and
U.S. society currently spends at least $100 billion on Alzheimer's disease each year. It is estimated that 14 million Americans
will have this disease by the middle of the next century unless a cure or prevention is found.
Scios is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of novel
human therapeutics. Apart from its research pipeline efforts, Scios has two major clinical development programs. Natrecor®
(nesiritide) is awaiting approval by the FDA for the short-term treatment of congestive heart failure after Scios filed an NDA in
April 1998. Fiblast® (trafermin) is in Phase II/III clinical trials in Europe for the treatment of stroke and additional Phase II
clinical trials in vascular disease are planned. Additional information on Scios is available at its web site located at
www.sciosinc.com and in the company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lilly is a global research-based pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., that is dedicated to creating
and delivering innovative pharmaceutical-based health care solutions that enable people to live longer, healthier and more active
lives.
This release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations.
The information is based on management's current expectations but actual results may differ materially due to various factors,
including those mentioned in this release, risks and uncertainties, including market conditions, competitive pricing, the successful
outcome of product development efforts and clinical trials, the timely receipt of regulatory approvals, and those outlined in Lilly
and Scios filings with the SEC.
SOURCE: Scios Inc.
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