|
Lilly readies Viagra rival
|
 |
November 28, 2000: 11:33 a.m. ET
Eli Lilly and partner Icos present positive clinical data on proposed drug
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Eli Lilly and Co. and partner Icos Corp. released positive results Tuesday of a clinical study on a proposed impotence treatment that could rival Pfizer Inc.'s blockbuster Viagra.
The drug, known as Cialis, is currently undergoing a late-stage Phase III clinical trial. Indianapolis-based Lilly and Icos, of Bothell, Wash., announced Tuesday at a medical conference in Perth, Australia, that an earlier, Phase II trial showed that the drug was effective and that side effects were mild.
The drug, like Viagra, is known as a PDE-5 inhibitor, which is designed to help smooth muscle relaxation and allow a man to better achieve and maintain an erection.
 Lilly and Icos suggested that Cialis may have fewer side effects than Viagra, saying that the drug affects the PDE-5 receptor sites without interfering significantly with the actions of other known PDEs that affect organs and tissues such as the brain, heart, kidney or eyes.
The latest study of 212 men found that 88 percent of patients taking the drug reported significantly improved erections, compared with 28 percent of those taking a placebo.
Drug makers are rushing to try to come up with rivals to Pfizer's Viagra, which generated roughly $1 billion in sales last year. Earlier this month, a British judge invalidated Pfizer's British patent on a key compound used in Viagra, potentially opening the door to competing products. A similar case challenging the Viagra patent on a European-wide level is pending in Brussels.
In late morning trading, Lilly (LLY: Research, Estimates) shares gained $2.38 to $91.13 and Icos (ICOS: Research, Estimates) stock added 81 cents to $45.69. Pfizer (PFE: Research, Estimates) stock lost 94 cents to $43.94. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Icos
|
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNNmoney
|
|
|
|
 |
|
