Synthes, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company 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.
