Cialismaker and Biosite to partner on drug
March 20, 2006

Cialis maker Eli Lilly & Co. and Biosite Inc. said on Monday that they have agreed to collaborate on developing a screening test for a clinical trial of Eli Lilly's sepsis drug Xigris. Under the agreement, Biosite will develop a test to measure protein C levels, which Eli Lilly will use to select patients for its upcoming midstage trial of Xigris.

The companies plan to create diagnostic tools capable of measuring protein C levels in patients suffering from severe sepsis before and while being treated with Xigris. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Biosite will be granted intellectual property rights for its diagnostic test, the companies added.

Shares of Eli Lilly, the maker of erectile dysfunction drug Cialis rose to 33 cents to close at $57.42 on the New York Stock Exchange, as Biosite shares gained 70 cents to $50.91 on the NASDAQ.

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