Photo: sanjeri/Getty Images
Seattle-based biotech company Lila Biologics announced a global licensing and multitarget research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Co. focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of radioligand therapies for imaging and treatment of solid tumors.
Additionally, Lila launched its two protein therapeutics platforms, fueled by artificial intelligence and machine learning, to fight cancer and nononcology diseases.
Lila's targeted radiotherapy/oncology platform for solid tumors and long-acting injectables platform for nononcology conditions will employ Lila's proprietary AI/ML-powered protein design engine to build the foundation for new drug discovery and breakthrough treatments for patients.
As part of the joint effort, Lila will design precision-targeted proteins for radioligand therapy and aims to undertake program discovery via development candidate selection.
Lilly intends to focus on investigational new drug-enabled studies, global clinical development and commercialization.
"Lila's core technology goes beyond ML-enabled design of high-affinity binders, and we have fine-tuned our engine to deliver precision targeted proteins with optimized drug-like properties that have the potential to unlock a new generation of treatments that dramatically improve patients' quality of life and extend survival time," Jake Kraft, CEO and cofounder of Lila Biologics, said in a statement.
THE LARGER TREND
Earlier this month, Eli Lilly and Co., announced that the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to olomorasib, in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab), for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer with a KRAS G12C mutation and PD-L1 expression ≥ 50%, as determined by FDA approved tests.
In April, Eli Lilly filed lawsuits against four compounders claiming that they sold unapproved products that contain Tirzepatide, a key ingredient in the company's weight-loss and diabetes drugs, including top-seller Mounjaro.
The lawsuits against Mochi Health, Fella Health and Delilah, and Henry Meds were filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California San Francisco Division, while the lawsuit against Willow Health Services was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
In 2024, Lilly Digital Health and Lilly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology (LCCP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., created a SGD$42 million digital health innovation hub in Singapore.
The hub's development, aimed at increasing the research and development of AI-powered digital health technologies, is part of a five-year plan, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
The hub installed Lilly's Magnol.AI platform, which allows sophisticated and safe ingestion, visualization and processing of high-frequency sensor data collected using wearable sensors.
When lined up with clinician and patient-reported outcomes, Magnol.AI allows for real-time data science capabilities.
That same year, AI and RNA genetic-medicine company Genetic Leap teamed up with Eli Lilly to develop genetic medicine therapeutics.
According to the two companies, the partnership expanded on a pilot program using Genetic Leap's RNA-targeted AI platform, designed to produce oligonucleotide drugs counter to targets chosen by Lilly in crucial therapeutic areas.
Lilly provided Genetic Leap with as much as $409 million dollars in upfront commercial, development, regulatory and clinical payments and tiered royalties.
