Lilly problems in the UC-San Diego vs. USC dispute

Watch out for Lilies

For blog readers who have followed the legal battle between UC-San Diego and USC over a poached faculty member and research contract, there is the latest installment:

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is shifting tens of millions of dollars from UC San Diego to the University of Southern California to test a drug on older people who have some evidence of Alzheimer’s disease but have yet to show symptoms. The move represents a huge setback to UC San Diego in its legal fight with USC over control of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a nationwide effort to better diagnose and treat the disease.

Lilly said on Tuesday that it will move the money it planned to give UC San Diego for a clinical test of Lilly's Alzheimer's drug, solanezumab. The study, known as A4, is part of the larger ADCS, which UC San Diego has managed since 1991. A4 is a public-private partnership, funded by Lilly, the National Institutes of Health, and philanthropic groups.

"We're very happy to be moving forward with this study to assure its success," said Dr. Paul Aisen, an Alzheimer's expert who headed the ADCS until June, when he left UC San Diego to lead a new Alzheimers' institute USC founded in San Diego. Aisen attempted to bring the cooperative study with him. UC San Diego sued Aisen, some members of his staff, and USC to retain the study...

David Brenner, dean of the UC San Diego School of Medicine, said Tuesday, “We will comply with Lilly’s request and make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Full story at http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/04/UCSD-Lilly-grants/

Your truly's nonlegal mind wonders whether the loss of the Lilly study might add to the legal case for damages that UC-San Diego could make.

In any event, USC can say hello to Lilly: