Lilly sees pipeline hope in MS drug

An article in the Indianapolis Star details Lilly's development program for MBP9289, a multiple sclerosis drug offering hope to both patients and a drug developer that hasn't launched a new drug for humans since 2005. MBP9289 is currently in Phase II and III trials and has shown promise in delaying progression and worsening of MS. The opportunity here for Lilly is huge--roughly 2.5 million people worldwide have the disease, and MS-related drugs did $6 billion in sales last year. Moreover, those who treat the MS say the disease is under-served by current treatments.

"Given Lilly's prominence in neurosciences, an expansion into multiple sclerosis makes strategic sense," said Linda Bannister, a drug analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis. "But whether this compound is the answer, it's too soon to say."

- read this IndyStar article

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