AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company have reached an agreement for the development and commercialization of the oral beta secretes cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor, AZD3293, which might become a viable treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The oral therapy is expected to prevent the formation of amyloid plaque, which is comprised of peptides called amyloid beta, and slow the disease progression.
The agreement established stipulates that AstraZeneca will pay up to $500 million in development and regulatory milestone payments. Lilly announced that it is planning on receiving the first milestone payment of $50 million in the first half of 2015. Future costs will be equally shared by both companies, including net global revenues post-launch.