In a widely expected move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected a drug to treat Cystic Fibrosis made by Alnara Pharmaceuticals, which is owned by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. The FDA has ordered additional clinical trials to further study the drug candidate, called liprotamase.
Liprotamase was originally developed by defunct Cambridge biotech company Altus Pharmaceuticals, before landing at fellow Cambridge firm Alnara Pharmaceuticals. Alnara was bought by Lilly for $180 million in July 2010, largely on the promise of the potential CF therapy.