Zealand, Lilly to discover peptides for diabetes and obesity
Zealand Pharma A/S (CSE:ZEAL) partnered with Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) to discover and develop peptide therapeutics to treat Type II diabetes and obesity based on a peptide-hormone approach discovered by the pharma. Zealand declined to disclose the number or identity of targets included in the deal, but said it is a potential multi-target collaboration that may also be expanded into other disease areas. The partners are not disclosing financial terms, but said they will share in the "funding, risk and reward."
Zealand's first invented peptide product is Lyxumia lixisenatide, which the European Commission approved in February to improve glycemic control in adult Type II diabetics. Partner Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) launched the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor ( GLP-1R) agonist in Germany in March. ...