Eli Lilly Biotechnology Centre, San Diego, USA

Opened on 29 October 2009, Eli Lilly's biotechnology centre is located near the University of California in San Diego (UCSD). The centre has been developed as part of Eli Lilly's strategy to manufacture more biotechnology drugs. By 2013, the biotechnology centre will meet Eli Lilly's target of developing two new biotechnology drugs a year.

The centre was launched three months after Eli Lilly announced its decision to relocate its ImClone research headquarters, which manufactures cancer drug Erbitux, to a New York biotechnology drug research cluster. It also follows the construction of Eli Lilly's biopharmaceutical research and development complex in Indianapolis, a year before.

New biotechnology centre

The state-of-the-art biotechnology centre is located within a 450,000ft core and shell facility known as Campus Pointe. The centre occupies nearly a quarter of Campus Pointe, leased out for ten years. Approximately 200 scientists, experienced in discovering, engineering and testing new biotechnology drugs can be accommodated in the centre.

The centre combines SGX Pharmaceuticals and Applied Molecular Evolution (AME), which have been housed together to generate better synergies. Eli Lilly acquired biotechnology company SGX in 2008, while AME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly. Post acquisition, the company merged SGX with the discovery chemistry research and technology (DCRT) division.

The facility is part of a large life science activity hub in San Diego. Apart from USCD, the biotechnology centre is situated alongside famous research institutes including the Salk Institute, Burnham Institute for Medical Research and The Scripps Research Institute. The location was selected as per Eli Lilly's FIPNet strategy that allows it to use external resources and knowledge to expand its own pipeline.

Drugs produced

The facility will develop biotechnology drugs meant for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Every year, the centre will produce at least one biological medicine.

For autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, Eli Lilly has five molecules in its clinical pipeline. This includes three humanised antibodies that were designed and engineered by scientists now working at the San Diego biotechnology centre. Biotechnology drugs account for more than half of Eli Lilly's mid-to-late-stage pipeline.

Process technology

The biotechnology centre will combine SGX's drug development technology with that of AME. SGX, which develops drugs in the field of oncology, concentrates on discovering small molecule drugs. It adopts a technology that involves thorough analysis of pharmaceutical targets. In contrast, AME, a protein engineering company, develops drugs involving large molecules.

Campus Pointe

Developed by Veralliance Properties of San Diego, Campus Pointe is a platinum level core and shell facility in the final review stages for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. If granted, the facility will become the first LEED-certified core and shell facility in California.

The certification implies that the building meets the highest standards of the parameters formulated by the US Green Building Council for environmental responsibility.

Environmentally friendly features of Campus Pointe include the production of renewable energy through the use of solar panels, preserving the site's existing trees, using certified renewable wood commodities across the facility and improving heating, ventilation and air-conditioning commissioning and carbon dioxide monitoring to ensure superior indoor air quality.

The facility also incorporates water-efficient features, including low-flow plumbing fixtures, drought-resistant landscaping and use of recycled water for the purpose of landscaping and for the building's cooling system. There is also a parking area exclusively for hybrid vehicles within the facility.

FIPNet

Fully integrated pharmaceutical network or FIPNet is an evolving strategy that is increasingly being adopted by large pharmaceutical companies. Through this strategy, pharmaceutical companies tap external competencies and network and benefit through collaboration. Eli Lilly and Merck are the two companies leading the use of FIPNet in the pharmaceutical industry.

The opening of Lilly's San Diego site comes just three months after the company moved ImClone Systems, the maker of cancer drug Erbitux, into a new biopharmaceutical research hub in New York, giving its scientists access to nearby academic research organisations. It purchased the biotech in late 2008 for $6.5bn to boost its cancer drug pipeline. A year ago, Lilly finished construction on a biotech R&D centre at its headquarters in Indianapolis.

Lilly, which partnered locally with Amylin Pharmaceuticals on its top-selling diabetes drug, Byetta, has deep roots in San Diego. San Diego's first biotechnology company, Hybritech, was acquired by Lilly in 1985.