Lilly launches innovation platform

Eli Lilly & Company has launched a drug discovery platform focusing on developing treatments in areas of unmet medical need.

The platform is supported by the website openinnovation.Lilly.com through which scientists can submit molecules for Lilly to test to evaluate for further development. Data reports are then provided for them.

In the case of cancer, endocrine, cardiovascular and neuroscience screenings, Lilly said it would retain first rights to negotiate an agreement with the submitter in return for providing the data.

The platform itself consists of three components, the first of which screens submitted molecules for their potential to interact with known disease targets.

The second component then screens the molecules again in order to identify potential new medicines acting by novel mechanisms or pathways.

The final component screens molecules specifically for their potential as therapies for MDR-TB - a form of tuberculosis (TB) that is resistant to some TB medicines.

Dr Jan Lundberg, executive vice president, science and technology, and president, Lilly Research Laboratories, explained that partnership programmes were an increasing priority for Lilly in developing new products.

He said: "We recognise that there are many untapped sources of ideas and molecules outside of Lilly that would otherwise go unnoticed without initiatives like this one that advance science."