ICOS has entered into a biologics manufacturing agreement with Eli Lilly, in which the Bothell, Washington-based firm will manufacture two clinical candidates. The two companies have a history of close collaboration, most notably on the development of Cialis (tadalafil), a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor recently launched for erectile dysfunction. The identity of the two biological drugs was not disclosed.
August Watanabe, Lilly's soon-to-retire executive vice president for science and technology, said that the company had decided to outsource a portion of its biologics production and ICOS met its requirements for timely delivery.
ICOS clinical manufacturing facility is located in Bothell, Washington, and houses areas designed for current Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant production and purification of both cell culture and microbial fermentation products and can accommodate microbial fermentation of up to 1,600 litres and cell culture production up to 3,000 litres.