Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly have been developing and commercialising Trajenta (linagliptin) and Basaglar (insulin glargine)
Image: Eli Lilly and Company's Corporate Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, US. Photo: Courtesy of Momoneymoproblemz/Wikipedia.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly are set to revise their existing alliance to focus on the continued development and commercialisation of Jardiance (empagliflozin) for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
Under the alliance established in January 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly have been developing and commercialising Trajenta (linagliptin) and Basaglar (insulin glargine).
Boehringer Ingelheim global therapeutic areas head Carine Brouillon said: “The Alliance has experienced significant success since its formation in 2011, with Jardiance, Trajenta and Basaglar becoming strong brands and continuing to grow in their respective classes globally.
“As the versatility of the SGLT2 inhibitor class continues to be realised, focusing our combined expertise and investment to support this important treatment will not only result in greater value for both companies but better enable us to help more people with and without type 2 diabetes.”
Boehringer Ingelheim is responsible for Trajenta and Lilly for Basaglar
Following the modification of the agreement, a revised margin sharing structure will be established for ongoing payments effective 1 January 2020.
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an oral, once-daily, highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and also the first type 2 diabetes medicine approved by regulatory authorities to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Using empagliflozin to inhibit SGLT2 in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar levels may result in excretion of excess sugar in the urine.
In addition, initiation of empagliflozin use also increases excretion of salt from the body and reduces the fluid load of the body’s blood vessel system.
According to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Expert Consensus Decision Pathway, empagliflozin is the preferred SGLT2 inhibitor for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
Lilly Connected Care and Insulins senior vice president Mike Mason said: “Building on EMPA-REG OUTCOME, a number of important clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Jardiance in people with heart failure or chronic kidney disease, including in people with and without type 2 diabetes.
“The results from these trials will help us understand how to further improve quality of life for these populations. Jardiance has a bright future, and the Alliance is absolutely committed to its success.”
Mason will become president of Lilly Diabetes starting 1 January 2020.