Élan

Elan Corporation plc was a major drugs firm based in Dublin, Ireland, which had major interests in the United States. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange as ELN, the Irish Stock Exchange as ELN.I, and the London Stock Exchange as ELN.L. In 2013, the company merged with Perrigo to form Perrigo Company PLC.[2]

For other uses, see Elan.

Elan Corporation plc
TypePublic
NYSE: ELN
IndustryBiotechnology
FateAcquired by Perrigo
FoundedAthlone, County Westmeath, Ireland (1969)
Defunct2013
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Key people
Robert Ingram, Chairman
Kelly Martin, CEO
ProductsPRIALT (ziconotide)
NANOCRYSTAL technology
In pipeline:
TYSABRI (natalizumab)
AZACTAM (aztreonam for injection, USP)
MAXIPIME (cefepime hydrochloride) for Injection
Revenue$0.2 million USD (2012)[1]
$(366.9) million USD (2012)[1]
$(363.9) million USD (2012)[1]

History

The company was founded in Ireland by American businessman Don Panoz in 1969. In the late 1990s its value on the Irish Stock Exchange reached over €20bn. However, in 2002 an accounting scandal and investor reactions to the global slump, caused a major devaluation resulting in a share price slump of over 90%.[3] Since then the company has regained its growth path under the reign of a new American CEO Kelly Martin.[4] In July 2010, Élan was fined $203m for its marketing of epilepsy drugs.[5]

In February 2013 Elan decided to dispose of the rights to sell Tysabri to Biogen Idec for $3.25 billion.[6]

Products in development

In neurology, Elan is focused on building upon its research and experience in the area of neuropathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, where the company’s efforts include programs focused on small molecule inhibitors of beta secretase and gamma secretase, enzymes whose actions are thought to affect the accumulation of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. An example of such a molecule is semagacestat.[7] Elan is also studying other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Élan, in collaboration with Wyeth, is currently conducting a Phase III clinical trial for bapineuzumab, an experimental humanized monoclonal antibody with a targeted indication of immunotherapeutic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This humanized monoclonal antibody is designed and engineered to clear the neurotoxic beta-amyloid peptide that accumulates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Although initial results from an earlier Phase II clinical trial presented in July 2008 were inconclusive, Elan is hopeful that bapineuzumab will prove successful in the treatment of this disease.[8]

In autoimmune diseases, Elan’s primary emphasis is studying cell trafficking to discover ways to provide disease-modifying therapies for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Research efforts are also focused on physiological and neuropathic pain. Previously named Antegren, natalizumab is a drug co-marketed by Biogen Idec and Élan as "Tysabri". Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits immune cells from crossing blood vessel walls to reach various tissues, including the brain. It has proven efficacy in the treatment of two serious autoimmune disorders: multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease.[9]

References
  1. Annual Report 2012
  2. "Perrigo Company plc Completes Acquisition of Élan Corporation, plc" (Press release). Perrigo. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. Ireland's troubled Élan Corp. says SEC is investigating its accounting practices AP, 7 February 2002
  4. Business person of the month: Kelly Martin, CEO, Elan Business & Finance, May 2011
  5. insideireland.ie, Elan fined $203m over drug marketing, Elan fined $203m over drug marketing, 16 July 2010. Accessed 19 July 2010.
  6. Biogen to Pay Elan $3.25 Billion for Full Tysabri Rights Bloomberg, 6 February 2013
  7. "Lilly halts Alzheimer's drug development". PM Live. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  8. Elan, Wyeth’s Alzheimer’s Angst Builds as Rivals Fail Bloomberg, 20 July 2009
  9. "Tysabri Label Change to Target Use". Bloomberg.com. 20 January 2012.
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