NICE backs Bydureon in Type II diabetics

The U.K.'s NICE issued a final appraisal determination (FAD) recommending the use of once-weekly Bydureon exenatide to treat Type II diabetes in triple and dual therapy regimens. The FAD is in line with a preliminary appraisal issued last October (see BioCentury Extra, Oct. 17, 2011).

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLN) and Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) co-developed Bydureon under a 2002 deal for exenatide. Last November, the companies mutually terminated the deal. Eli Lilly will transfer ex-U.S. operations to Amylin by the end of 2013. The long-acting release ( LAR) formulation of synthetic exendin-4 uses drug delivery technology from Alkermes plc (NASDAQ:ALKS) (see BioCentury, Nov. 14, 2011). ...