Eli Lilly buys erectile dysfunction drug partner ICOS
October 24, 2006

24/10/2006 - Eli Lilly has splashed out $2.1bn (€1.7bn) to buy ICOS, who the drug giant has been involved in a joint venture with to manufacture and sell Cialis (tadalafil) - the number two erectile dysfunction drug behind Viagra (sildenafil).

Lilly's decision to acquire ICOS was driven primarily by its desire to obtain 100 per cent of the ownership and value of the tadalafil molecule, which it now plans to develop the commercial potential for through the pursuit of new indications.
The deal will not change anything in regards to the production of the drug.

“Lilly has been the sole manufacturer of the product since its launch, and we will continue to manufacture it even after the deal closes,” Eli Lilly spokesperson Phil Belt told In-PharmaTechnologist.com.

Along with the deal comes a biologics manufacturing facility in Bothell, Washington, that currently does small-scale contract biologic manufacturing for several companies.

The future of the site is now hanging in the balance.

“We have not disclosed any further details regarding this facility, nor have we made any final determinations regarding this site,” said Belt.

“We will conduct a thorough review of current and proposed future activities at that site in close consultation with ICOS' partners and will work to determine the best path forward in each case.”

However, Lilly CEO Sidney Taurel did admit last week that a significant number of the 700 jobs at ICOS will be axed.