Lilly buys Alnara to move into enzyme drugs
Eli Lilly is moving into the enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) market with the acquisition of US biotechnology firm Alnara Pharmaceuticals.
The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, will add Alnara’s range of candidates to Lilly’s pipeline, include the non-porcine pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) liprotamase which is being reviewed as a treatment for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
At present Lilly’s main research focus is on neuroscience, oncology and diabetetes, although the firm is keen to explore new therapeutic areas as Bryce Carmine president of Lilly BioMedicines explained.
He said the deal “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.”
