Worldwide, exclusive licensing deal covering gastrin compounds could yield another $130 million in milestones.
Transition Therapeutics could reap over $137 million through a collaboration with Eli Lilly covering diabetes compounds. Eli Lilly will initially pay $7 million for the exclusive, worldwide rights to Transition’s gastrin-based therapeutic portfolio.
The agreement includes TT-223, which is in early clinical development. The candidate is being evaluated in combination with an EGF analogue and a GLP-1 analogue in type 1/2 diabetes as well as metformin in type 2 diabetes. Transition and Lilly will jointly conduct the planned Phase II study in type 2 diabetes. Thereafter, Lilly will be responsible for development and commercialization of all gastrin-based therapeutic products worldwide.
Gastrin-based therapies provide sustained improvement in glycemic control in preclinical models and early clinical studies, according to the firms.
