Eli Lilly and Company is deepening its collaboration with KeyBioscience to further develop dual amylin calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs) as potential treatments for obesity. This extended agreement allows Lilly to retain the rights to the DACRA platform, which includes a promising new molecule slated to advance into Phase 2 clinical studies.
According to Morten Karsdal, CEO of KeyBioscience's parent company, DACRAs have demonstrated significant potential as weight loss agents, with the added benefit of insulin sensitization. "DACRAs have been shown to be potent weight loss agents with potential for additional insulin sensitization," Karsdal stated. "We are extremely excited to move forward with the clinical program, as this class in other Phase 2 trials has shown significant weight loss in people with obesity and clinically meaningful improvement of glycaemic control."
Clinical Potential of DACRAs
Clinical trials of DACRAs have indicated their ability to induce substantial weight loss and improve glycemic control in obese individuals. The new molecule within Lilly's portfolio is expected to exhibit high potency and a low risk of immunogenicity, making it a competitive candidate in the obesity treatment landscape.
Ruth Gimeno, Group Vice President for Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiometabolic Research at Lilly, highlighted the potential of DACRAs as an emerging class of obesity therapies. "Dual amylin-calcitonin receptor agonists are an emerging new class of obesity therapies with potential benefits in additional indications," Gimeno noted. "We welcome the expanded collaboration with KeyBioscience and are excited to explore the potential of Key's DACRA molecules in the clinic."
Lilly's Investment in Manufacturing
In related news, Lilly is investing $4.5 billion to establish a new advanced manufacturing and drug development site in Indiana, named the Lilly Medicine Foundry. This facility will enhance Lilly's capacity to produce new medications and scale up the production of those entering clinical trials.
David A. Ricks, Lilly's Chair and CEO, emphasized the importance of this investment in supporting the company's growing pipeline. "As we accelerate our work to discover new medicines for the toughest diseases, we're continuing to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure to support our growing pipeline," Ricks said. "In addition to supplying high-quality medicine for our clinical studies, this new complex will further strengthen our process development and scale up our manufacturing capabilities to speed delivery of next-generation medicines to patients around the world."
