Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company have entered into a global alliance to jointly develop and commercialise a portfolio of diabetes compounds that are in mid- and late-stage development.

The compounds are Boehringer Ingelheim’s two oral diabetes agents, linagliptin and BI10773, and Eli Lilly’s two basal insulin analogues, LY2605541 and LY2963016.

The agreement also includes an option for Boehringer Ingelheim to co-develop and co-commercialise another Lilly diabetes molecule, an anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibody.

The partnership will combine collective scientific expertise and business capabilities of the two companies to meet patient needs arising from the growing global diabetes epidemic.