Amylin Pharmaceuticals

Amylin Pharmaceuticals

Amylin Pharmaceuticals was a biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California. The company focused on the development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Amylin Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1987 and became a significant player in the pharmaceutical industry before being acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2012.

History

Amylin Pharmaceuticals was established in 1987 by Howard E. Greene Jr. and Joseph C. Cook Jr. The company was named after the hormone amylin, which is co-secreted with insulin by the beta cells of the pancreas. Amylin Pharmaceuticals aimed to develop therapies that would improve the lives of patients with diabetes.

In 1995, Amylin Pharmaceuticals went public, listing its shares on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The company focused on the development of peptide hormone therapeutics, particularly those related to diabetes management.

Products

Amylin Pharmaceuticals developed several notable products during its operation:

• Symlin: Symlin (pramlintide acetate) is an injectable drug used to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic analog of the human hormone amylin.

• Byetta: Byetta (exenatide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It was developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.

• Bydureon: Bydureon is an extended-release formulation of exenatide, designed to be administered once weekly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Acquisition

In 2012, Amylin Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb for approximately $5.3 billion. The acquisition was part of Bristol-Myers Squibb's strategy to expand its diabetes portfolio. Following the acquisition, AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop and commercialize Amylin's products.

Legacy

Amylin Pharmaceuticals played a significant role in the development of diabetes treatments, particularly in the area of GLP-1 receptor agonists. The company's products, such as Byetta and Bydureon, continue to be used in the management of type 2 diabetes.

Related pages

• Diabetes mellitus
• Insulin
• Glucagon-like peptide-1
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• AstraZeneca