WEST CHESTER, Pa. and INDIANAPOLIS, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —
Synthes, Inc. (SIX: SYST.VX) and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:
LLY) today announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide
collaboration agreement to address the needs of patients who are
cared for by orthopedic surgeons, including those with osteoporosis
and those with bone fractures.
The agreement allows for the joint development and licensing of
early stage compounds from Lilly to Synthes for use within
orthopedic trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial and reconstructive
areas. These compounds have pre-clinical and in some
cases clinical data packages and have the
potential to aid in the local treatment and regeneration of the
skeleton. The two companies will jointly develop site-specific
osteoinductive (i.e. bone healing) products based on Synthes’
biomaterials combined with Lilly’s biologics or
pharmaceuticals.
Within a second development program, Synthes and Lilly will
jointly conduct and fund the evaluation of additional orthopedic
uses for Lilly’s osteoporosis drug Forteo® (teriparatide [rDNA
origin] injection), marketed as Forsteo® in some countries
outside of the United States). Building upon a Phase II study
that Lilly has already completed, Lilly and Synthes will
collaborate on additional clinical studies to evaluate potential
future indications for Forteo, including fracture healing.
In addition to the development component of the agreement, the
collaboration also includes the U.S. co-promotion of Forteo to
orthopedic surgeons, an important segment of physicians who treat
patients with a fracture due to osteoporosis. The companies will
also co-promote Forteo in select countries and regions outside of
the United States.
“I am very excited about this unique collaboration that will
utilize the complementary clinical, development and operati
‘/>”/>
