INDIANAPOLIS, May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Several studies will underscore the strength of Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) diverse clinical cancer pipeline and portfolio during the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, June 3 – 7, 2016. Presentations include new data on abemaciclib, a CDK 4 and 6 inhibitor, as well as: ramucirumab, a VEGF Receptor 2 antagonist; galunisertib, a TGFβ small-molecule kinase inhibitor; and emibetuzumab, a MET antibody.
Other data to be presented at ASCO highlight Lilly's ongoing immuno-oncology clinical collaborations with Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada) in two trials that are evaluating ramucirumab and pemetrexed-plus-carboplatin, respectively, in combination with Merck's pembrolizumab.
These presentations reflect Lilly's multi-faceted strategy in developing cancer treatments – a balanced approach based on three scientific pillars of tumor cell growth and progression: cell signaling, tumor microenvironment and immuno-oncology. Lilly's data at this year's ASCO meeting highlight some of the recent progress it has made toward this strategy and touch on all three of these scientific pillars.
"The reality is that cancer is more than 200 diseases and the treatment of cancer needs to be aggressively approached from many angles," said Richard Gaynor, M.D., senior vice president, product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology. "Our oncology R&D strategy is to produce a diverse portfolio of novel agents that attack tumor cell growth and progression in multiple ways to improve patient outcomes."
Dr. Gaynor continued, "We are encouraged by our data at ASCO and the progress of our pipeline toward achieving our overall goals. We've had notable clinical advancements with abemaciclib and olaratumab, both of which have been designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA. These build on necitumumab and ramucirumab, which we are continuing to investigate in additional disease settings and combinations. Additionally, our immuno-oncology initiatives are increasingly producing results through collaborations and our own internal research efforts."
Select studies, along with the times and locations of their data sessions, are highlighted below.
Abemaciclib
Immuno-Oncology Collaborations with ramucirumab or pemetrexed
Ramucirumab
Galunisertib
Emibetuzumab
About Lilly Oncology
For more than fifty years, Lilly has been dedicated to delivering life-changing medicines and support to people living with cancer and those who care for them. Lilly is determined to build on this heritage and continue making life better for all those affected by cancer around the world. To learn more about Lilly's commitment to people with cancer, please visit www.LillyOncology.com.
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 newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.
P-LLY
Lilly Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding Lilly's oncology portfolio and pipeline, including abemaciclib, emibetuzumab, galunisertib, necitumumab, olaratumab, pemetrexed and ramucirumab. This press release reflects Lilly's current beliefs. However, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that these treatment options will receive regulatory approval, or, if approved, that it will achieve intended benefits or become a commercially successful product. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from Lilly's expectations, please see the company's latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.
Refer to: Erin Graves; graves_erin_elissa@lilly.com; (908) 202-6354 (media)
Philip L. Johnson; philip_johnson_l@lilly.com; (317) 655-6874 (investors)
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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company