Amylin Pharmaceuticals

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Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Company type Subsidiary
Nasdaq: AMLN
Industry Biotechnology
Founded1987;37 years ago (1987)
Defunct2014 (2014)
FateAcquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca
Headquarters San Diego, California, United States
Key people
Daniel M. Bradbury [1]
ProductsSymlin (pramlintide)
Byetta (exenatide)
Bydureon (exenatide long-acting release)
RevenueDecrease2.svg US$651 million (2011) [2]
Decrease2.svg US$543 million (2011) [2]
Total assets Increase2.svg US$1.87 billion (2011) [2]
Total equity Decrease2.svg US$139 million (2011) [2]
Number of employees
1,300 (2011) [2]
Subsidiaries Amylin Ohio LLC

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical founded in 1987 that was based in San Diego, California. The company was engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of drug candidates for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and other diseases. Amylin produced three drugs: Symlin (pramlintide acetate), Byetta (exenatide) and Bydureon (exenatide extended release).

Contents

History

1987–1992: Founding and IPO

In 1987, Amylin Pharmaceuticals was co-founded by Howard E. Greene Jr., former CEO of San Diego biotech pioneer Hybridtech, to develop a treatment for diabetes from a synthetic analog of amylin. [3] Amylin was discovered by researchers at Oxford University earlier that year. [4] Greene served as CEO from 1987 to 1996. Amylin completed its IPO in 1992. [5]

1992–1998: Invention of Pramlintide and partnership with Johnson & Johnson

Amylin, in its natural form, is sticky, clumping on needles and forming little rocks[ clarification needed ] in the pancreas. To create a synthetic version that was more reliable and easy to work with, researchers at Amylin Pharmaceuticals altered amino acids in the molecule. The result was a new drug named pramlintide. [6]

In 1995, Amylin Pharmactietucals signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan division to further develop pramlintide. [7] A Phase II study made public in January 1997 showed that pramlintide was safe to mix with leading short-acting and intermediate-acting commercial insulin products, with preliminary results suggesting it might improve glycemic control. [8]

Initial Phase III trial results released in August 1997 demonstrated statistically significant results for type 1 (juvenile-onset) diabetes, helping modestly to improve glucose control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while also improving weight and cholesterol levels. In patients with adult-onset type 2 diabetes, pramlintide showed significant benefits at six months but not after 12 months. [9] In 1998, Johnson & Johnson terminated its partnership with Amylin. [10]

1998–2005: New Leadership, struggle to launch Pramlintide, and development of Byetta

Joseph C. Cook Jr., a 28-year veteran at Eli Lilly & Co. and an Amylin board member since 1994, came out of retirement in 1998, taking the title of chief executive officer. Cook reduced the company's workforce by 75 percent to conserve cash and raised capital from investors to keep Symlin moving through the regulatory pipeline. [4]

Symlin (pramlintide)

In October 2001, Amylin received an approvable letter for Symlin from the FDA, requiring additional clinical data addressing concerns of severe hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetics. [11] In December 2003, the FDA issued a second approvable letter requesting further clinical data to identify a patient population and method of use for Symlin where there is no increased risk of significant hypoglycemia or where there is an added benefit that clearly counterbalances any potential for increases in episodes of hypoglycemia. [12] In March 2005, Symlin was approved by the FDA for use in diabetics who have difficulty maintaining glycemic control. [13]

Byetta (Exenatide)

In October 1996, Dr. John Eng licensed to Amylin exendin-4, a peptide he had isolated in the venom of a Gila monster. [14] Exendin-4 is similar to the human gut hormone GLP-1, which is responsible for regulating insulin and glucagon release. [15] Unlike human GLP-1, however, exendin-4 has a half-life of several hours, making it a much better drug candidate. [14] Amylin developed exenatide, a synthetic version of exendin-4. In 2002, Eli Lilly signed an agreement with Amylin for $325 million to partner in development of exenatide. [16] In May 2005, Byetta (commercial name for exenatide) was approved in the United States. [17]

2005–2009: Development of Bydureon and proxy battle

2011–2012: End of collaboration with Eli Lilly and acquisition

In July 2012, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced it would acquire Amylin Pharmaceuticals for $5.3 billion. [18] As part of the acquisition, AstraZeneca made a $3.4 billion cash payment to make Amylin a wholly owned subsidiary within the existing BMS/AZ joint venture in diabetes. [19] In April 2013, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced it would close Amylin's San Diego operations by the end of 2014 and merge the Amylin manufacturing facility in West Chester, Ohio, and all field-based sales personnel into Bristol-Myers Squibb operations. [20] [21]

In December 2013, AstraZeneca purchased the Bristol-Myers Squibb share of the diabetes joint venture, and as a result, became the sole owner of all former Amylin products and business, including the manufacturing facility in West Chester, Ohio. [22] [23]

On February 4, 2014, the U.S. FDA approved Myalept (metreleptin), an analog of human leptin, [24] as replacement therapy to treat the complications of leptin deficiency, in addition to diet, in patients with congenital generalized or acquired generalized lipodystrophy. [25] Metraleptin was originally developed at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. [26] In November 2014, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals made a $325 million cash payment to AstraZeneca to acquire and commercialize metreleptin. [27]

Related Research Articles

ImClone Systems Incorporated was a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing biologic medicines in the area of oncology. It was founded in 1984 and had its corporate headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and its research headquarters in New York City. On October 6, 2008, it accepted a $6.5 billion acquisition offer from Eli Lilly and Company, and became a fully-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company on November 24, 2008. Prior to the acquisition, it was traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol IMCL. Imclone lost its separate identity in 2014 when its former ImClone research and manufacturing sites were renamed Eli Lilly and Company.

Drugs used in diabetes treat diabetes mellitus by decreasing glucose levels in the blood. With the exception of insulin, most GLP-1 receptor agonists, and pramlintide, all diabetes medications are administered orally and are thus called oral hypoglycemic agents or oral antihyperglycemic agents. There are different classes of hypoglycemic drugs, and selection of the appropriate agent depends on the nature of diabetes, age, and situation of the person, as well as other patient factors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AstraZeneca</span> British pharmaceutical company

AstraZeneca plc (AZ) is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England. It has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas including oncology, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory, and inflammation. It was involved in developing the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Myers Squibb</span> American pharmaceutical company

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, doing business as Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), is an American multinational pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, BMS is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and consistently ranks on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations. For fiscal 2022, it had a total revenue of $46.2 billion.

Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. The corporation was established in 1973 and merged with Synthélabo in 1999 to form Sanofi-Synthélabo. In 2004, Sanofi-Synthélabo merged with Aventis and renamed to Sanofi-Aventis, which were each the product of several previous mergers. It changed its name back to Sanofi in May 2011. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index. In 2023, the company’s seat in Forbes Global 2000 was 89.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Lilly and Company</span> American pharmaceutical company

Eli Lilly and Company is an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with offices in 18 countries. Its products are sold in approximately 125 countries. The company was founded in 1876 by Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union Army veteran of the American Civil War for whom the company was later named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amylin</span> Peptide hormone that plays a role in glycemic regulation

Amylin, or islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), is a 37-residue peptide hormone. It is co-secreted with insulin from the pancreatic β-cells in the ratio of approximately 100:1 (insulin:amylin). Amylin plays a role in glycemic regulation by slowing gastric emptying and promoting satiety, thereby preventing post-prandial spikes in blood glucose levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insulin glargine</span> Long-acting insulin

Insulin glargine sold under the brand name Lantus among others is a long-acting modified form of medical insulin, used in the management of type I and type II diabetes. It is injected just under the skin. Effects generally begin an hour after use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolbutamide</span> Chemical compound

Tolbutamide is a first-generation potassium channel blocker, sulfonylurea oral hypoglycemic medication. This drug may be used in the management of type 2 diabetes if diet alone is not effective. Tolbutamide stimulates the secretion of insulin by the pancreas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pramlintide</span> Diabetes medication

Pramlintide is an injectable amylin analogue drug for diabetes, developed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Pramlintide is sold as an acetate salt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celgene</span> American biopharmaceutical company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exenatide</span> Medication

Exenatide, sold under the brand name Byetta among others, is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is used together with diet, exercise, and potentially other antidiabetic medication. It is a treatment option after metformin and sulfonylureas. It is given by injection under the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saxagliptin</span> Chemical compound

Saxagliptin, sold under the brand name Onglyza, is an oral hypoglycemic of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor class. Early development was solely by Bristol-Myers Squibb; in 2007 AstraZeneca joined with Bristol-Myers Squibb to co-develop the final compound and collaborate on the marketing of the drug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insulin lispro</span> Rapid-acting insuline analog

Insulin lispro, sold under the brand name Humalog among others, is a modified type of medical insulin used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is delivered subcutaneously either by injection or from an insulin pump. Onset of effects typically occurs within 30 minutes and lasts about 5 hours. Often a longer-acting insulin like insulin NPH is also needed.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, also known as GLP-1 analogs, GLP-1DAs or incretin mimetics, are a class of anorectic drugs that reduce blood sugar and energy intake by activating the GLP-1 receptor. They mimic the actions of the endogenous incretin hormone GLP-1 that is released by the gut after eating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung Biologics</span> South Korean biotechnology company

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Dapagliflozin/saxagliptin/metformin, sold under the brand name Qternmet XR among others, is a fixed-dose combination anti-diabetic medication used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is a combination of dapagliflozin, saxagliptin, and metformin. It is taken by mouth. The drug is marketed by AstraZeneca.

References

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