In a move that will strengthen their alliance by enhancing efficiencies and enabling greater focus on product launches, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company are changing the operational and financial structure of their diabetes alliance in certain countries. Under the revised agreement, 17 countries representing more than 90 per cent of the alliance’s anticipated market opportunity will continue their co-promotion work. In all other countries, the companies will exclusively commercialise the respective molecules they brought to the alliance.

The changes will be implemented starting January 1, 2015.The scope of the alliance will remain unchanged in the following 17 countries: United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Canada, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, and Mexico.

Under a revised agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly will exclusively commercialise the respective molecules they brought to the alliance in all other countries under revised financial terms that will include an upfront payment and ongoing payments paid to Lilly in lieu of commission payments in those markets. Lilly plans to communicate the impact to its 2014 financial guidance in its third quarter Form 10-Q report to the US. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have a highly successful alliance,” said Enrique Conterno, president, Lilly Diabetes. “In less than four years, our companies have worked to develop and introduce several new important treatments for diabetes. The revised agreement will bring greater focus and clarity to our alliance and will benefit health care professionals, patients, and our companies. We look forward to continuing our important work together that makes life better for people with diabetes.”

To date, three new treatments for diabetes have been launched by the alliance: Trajenta (linagliptin), Jardiance (empagliflozin), and Jentadueto (linagliptin/metformin HCI). Additionally, the alliance’s new insulin glargine product has been tentatively approved in the US and approved in Europe. Other potential treatments, including fixed-dose combinations, continue being developed by the alliance.

“As our alliance continues to evolve, and with more medicines receiving approval by regulators, we have determined that enhancements are needed to reduce operational complexities in certain countries around the world,” said Dr Ulrich Drees, corporate senior vice president, International Project Management, Boehringer Ingelheim. “By continuing our work under this revised model, our companies can better focus on the important task of delivering innovative solutions to patients.”