Lilly enters collaboration with Incyte to develop treatments for inflammatory, autoimmune disorders

INDIANAPOLIS As it pumps money into research and development to prime its pipeline in the face of patent expirations, Eli Lilly & Co. has entered into a development and commercialization agreement with a smaller company to develop orally administered treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, the drug maker announced Monday.

Lilly will work with Incyte Corp. to develop INCB28050 and follow-on compounds as a treatment for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The drug is in phase 2 clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Under the agreement, Lilly will pay $90 million upfront and up to $665 million in milestones, in addition to royalties, in exchange for worldwide rights to develop and commercialize INCB28050.

“This new alliance with Incyte reinforces Lilly’s commitment to expand our presence in inflammation and autoimmunity through the development of a new class of oral anti-inflammatory therapies,” Lilly VP autoimmune product development Eiry Roberts said. “We look forward to continuing the development of INCB28050 in RA and initiating additional clinical studies to help address the unmet patient needs from debilitating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.”