Lilly Acquires Phase III Intranasal Glucagon from Locemia Solutions

Treatment Oral Medications and non-insulin injectables
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Intranasal Glucagon Could be the First Needle-Free Rescue Treatment for Severe Hypoglycemia

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – Eli Lilly and Company LLY, +2.07% and Locemia Solutions today announced Lilly has acquired worldwide rights to Locemia’s intranasal glucagon, a potential treatment for severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes treated with insulin. Intranasal glucagon, which is currently in Phase III clinical trial testing, could be the first needle-free rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia.

Intranasal glucagon uses a proprietary glucagon nasal powder formulation that is delivered in an emergency situation using a single-use, ready-to-use device. The caregiver presses a small plunger on the bottom of the device to release the glucagon as a puff in the nose, where the glucagon is absorbed in the nasal passages.

“If approved, glucagon nasal powder would be an important innovation for people with diabetes and an exciting addition to our product portfolio,” said Enrique Conterno, president, Lilly Diabetes. "Administration of glucagon is critical when people with diabetes experience a severe hypoglycemic episode, and in an emergency situation, not having to reconstitute or inject the medicine would reduce the complexity in an already stressful situation. We look forward to bringing this product to market. "

“Locemia’s mission has been to find an innovative approach to make severe hypoglycemia rescue simple. We believe needle-free glucagon nasal powder could positively impact the lives of those who use insulin and expand the community of people who could take action in a severe hypoglycemia emergency,” said Dr. Claude Piche, CEO of Locemia Solutions.

“We are thrilled that Lilly, with its global expertise and heritage in diabetes, has made this commitment to advance our innovative glucagon nasal powder. We believe that, with Lilly’s leadership, a less complex approach to glucagon delivery could have a broad impact beyond just rescue treatment for insulin users and those who touch their lives,” said Robert Oringer, Chairman of Locemia Solutions.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

About Eli Lilly and Company External Innovation Our long-term commitment to scientific excellence at Lilly is the foundation for our success in identifying, accessing and shaping external innovation.

About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and Lilly.com | Eli Lilly and Company.

About Locemia Solutions Locemia Solutions is a privately held, specialty pharmaceutical company located in Montreal, Canada. Locemia focuses on bringing innovative solutions to people with diabetes. Our team has years of experience in developing and commercializing diabetes-related products and services. To learn more about Locemia, please visit us at www.locemia.com.

C-LLY

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about the acquisition by Lilly of worldwide rights to Locemia Solutions’ dry mist nasal glucagon and reflects Lilly’s current beliefs. However, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. There is no guarantee that the acquisition will yield successful results, that the dry mist nasal glucagon will be approved to treat insulin coma or insulin reaction resulting from severe low blood sugar, or that either company will achieve the anticipated benefits. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly’s most recent 10-K and 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

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Snorting powder is probably popular with cocaine users. I couldn’t tolerate Cromolyn so I presume I’d not like to inhale glucagon powder either. I’ll stick (pun) with the injectable version, thank you very much. My asthma stays in check with a few yearly puffs of Albuterol and I don’t like inhaling even that, much less cromolyn. Some of us don’t do well inhaling powder.

Inhalable insulin has also had issues for those with asthma. I wish mfgrs would get off of this inhalables kick.

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if you’d like to see our interview with Locemia Solutions, here’s a link

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What I love about this product, is the ease of use. Perhaps the biggest concern I’ve had as a parent of a young child with type 1 diabetes, is the ability of those around him to properly intervene if emergency medical attention is needed. A glucagon kit is intimidating and complicated, particularly for those who do not live with diabetes every day. Knowing that a much more simple administration like this is available, if the need arises, would have saved me quite a few gray hairs when Caleb was younger. I think it will also provide me peace of mind for the same reason in the future, for example when he’s at college.

I found the results of the study noted here very encouraging.

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Or the complementary anxiety I have that my wife is going to remember where the thing is and how to do it if I ever–god forbid–need it. It’s not like you get a chance to practice, the thing is rather complicated if you’re trying to understand the instructions while your spouse is lying there unconscious, and even though we read through the how-to when we get a new one each year it’s not exactly at the forefront of anyone’s mind after that. Fortunately I’ve never had the need in 30+ years with T1, but you never know. So yes, an inhalable would be a a bit of peace of mind for me too.

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