Amylin Pharmaceuticals
A former San Diego biopharmaceutical company focused on medicines for diabetes, obesity, and related metabolic disorders.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Amylin Pharmaceuticals was a United States biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987 and headquartered in San Diego, California. It was established to develop medicines based on amylin, a peptide hormone involved in glucose regulation that had been identified by researchers at Oxford University. The company was co-founded by Howard E. Greene Jr., who had previously led San Diego biotechnology company Hybridtech, and he served as Amylin's chief executive through 1996. Amylin completed an initial public offering in 1992, giving it access to public-market capital while it pursued a difficult and lengthy drug-development program. The company's scientific work centered on improving metabolic control in diabetes. Its researchers modified the naturally occurring amylin molecule to produce pramlintide, a synthetic analogue designed to be more stable and practical for pharmaceutical use. Pramlintide was eventually commercialized as Symlin, an injectable treatment used alongside insulin for certain people with diabetes who have difficulty maintaining glycemic control. The product's development was prolonged by regulatory concerns, particularly the risk of severe hypoglycemia when it was used with insulin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an approvable letter in 2001, requested further evidence in 2003, and approved Symlin in 2005 for specified diabetic patients. Amylin also expanded beyond amylin biology through its development of exenatide. In 1996, it licensed exendin-4 from researcher John Eng. The peptide, originally isolated from Gila monster venom, had properties resembling the human hormone GLP-1 while remaining active for longer periods. Amylin developed a synthetic form of the peptide, exenatide, which became Byetta. Eli Lilly entered a development and commercialization agreement with Amylin in 2002, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Byetta in 2005. The companies subsequently developed Bydureon, an extended-release formulation of exenatide intended for less frequent administration. The company's path to commercialization involved major financial and organizational pressures. After Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan division ended its pramlintide collaboration in 1998, Joseph C. Cook Jr., a former Eli Lilly executive and Amylin board member, became chief executive. He substantially reduced the workforce to conserve cash and raised additional capital while the company continued regulatory work on Symlin and development of Byetta. Amylin later became the subject of shareholder and governance conflict during the period in which Bydureon was being developed, although the available reference material does not provide enough detail to characterize the dispute fully. Amylin's independence ended in 2012. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced an agreement to acquire the company for approximately $5.3 billion, with AstraZeneca contributing cash in connection with the existing Bristol-Myers Squibb–AstraZeneca diabetes joint venture. Amylin's San Diego operations were subsequently scheduled for closure, while its West Chester, Ohio, manufacturing facility and field sales operations were integrated into the acquiring companies' structures. In December 2013, AstraZeneca acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb's interest in the diabetes joint venture and became the sole owner of the former Amylin products and business. A further legacy product, metreleptin, originally developed at Amylin, received U.S. approval as Myalept in 2014 before its commercialization rights were sold to Aegerion Pharmaceuticals. Amylin therefore ceased to operate as an independent company, but several of its medicines and development programs continued under successor ownership.
History
Amylin Pharmaceuticals emerged in 1987 from efforts to turn research on amylin into a practical diabetes therapy. The company was co-founded by Howard E. Greene Jr., a former Hybridtech chief executive, and was based in San Diego, California. Amylin's formation followed the identification of amylin by Oxford University researchers. Because the naturally occurring peptide was difficult to handle, Amylin scientists altered its amino-acid sequence and created pramlintide, a synthetic analogue designed for pharmaceutical development. The company raised public capital through an initial public offering in 1992. Its early commercial strategy depended on partnerships as well as internal research. In 1995, it entered an agreement with Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan division to advance pramlintide. Clinical findings released during the late 1990s suggested that the compound could improve glycemic control and affect weight and cholesterol measures, but development was complicated by hypoglycemia concerns when the therapy was combined with insulin. Johnson & Johnson ended the collaboration in 1998. Following that setback, Joseph C. Cook Jr. became chief executive. Cook had extensive experience at Eli Lilly and had served on Amylin's board. He reduced the workforce substantially to preserve cash and continued raising financing for the pramlintide program. Regulatory review took several years: the FDA sent an approvable letter in 2001, sought additional clinical information in 2003, and ultimately approved Symlin in 2005 for defined diabetic populations. Amylin's second major product line came from exendin-4. In 1996, the company licensed the peptide from John Eng, who had isolated it from Gila monster venom. Exendin-4 shared important functional characteristics with GLP-1 but remained active longer than naturally occurring human GLP-1, making it attractive as a drug candidate. Amylin developed exenatide, and Eli Lilly joined the program in 2002. Byetta was approved in the United States in 2005. The partners later developed Bydureon, an extended-release version intended to reduce dosing frequency. The company continued to face strategic and governance pressure as it worked on Bydureon and managed its commercial portfolio. Reference material identifies a proxy battle during the 2005–2009 period, but does not provide sufficient detail here to describe its participants or outcome reliably. Amylin's collaboration with Eli Lilly eventually ended, and the company became an acquisition target. In July 2012, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a deal valued at approximately $5.3 billion to acquire Amylin. The transaction was connected to the Bristol-Myers Squibb–AstraZeneca diabetes joint venture, with AstraZeneca providing approximately $3.4 billion in cash in order to make Amylin part of the venture's business. Bristol-Myers Squibb later announced that Amylin's San Diego operations would close by the end of 2014, while the West Chester, Ohio, manufacturing site and field sales personnel would be integrated into broader operations. In December 2013, AstraZeneca acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb's interest in the diabetes venture and became the sole owner of the former Amylin products and business. Amylin's research legacy also included metreleptin, an analogue of human leptin. The FDA approved it as Myalept in February 2014 for replacement therapy in patients with specified forms of generalized lipodystrophy. Later in 2014, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals paid AstraZeneca to acquire and commercialize metreleptin. These transactions marked the continuation of individual Amylin programs under successor companies rather than the survival of Amylin as an independent corporate entity.
- 2014
Myalept receives FDA approval
[1]Metreleptin, originally developed at Amylin, was approved as Myalept for specified complications of generalized lipodystrophy.
- 2013
AstraZeneca takes sole ownership
[1]AstraZeneca acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb's interest in the diabetes joint venture, including the former Amylin business.
- 2012
Bristol-Myers Squibb announces acquisition
[1]Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a transaction to acquire Amylin for approximately $5.3 billion.
- 2005
Symlin and Byetta receive U.S. approval
[1]The FDA approved pramlintide as Symlin and exenatide as Byetta, giving Amylin two commercial diabetes products.
- 2003
Further FDA requirements for Symlin
[1]The FDA issued another approvable letter requesting evidence defining safe use and the appropriate patient population.
- 2002
Eli Lilly joins exenatide development
[1]Eli Lilly signed an agreement with Amylin to collaborate on developing and commercializing exenatide.
- 2001
First FDA approvable letter for Symlin
[1]The FDA requested additional clinical information, particularly concerning severe hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes.
- 1998
New chief executive and restructuring
[1]Joseph C. Cook Jr. became CEO, and the company reduced its workforce to conserve cash.
- 1996
Exendin-4 is licensed
[1]Amylin licensed exendin-4 from John Eng, beginning the development path that led to exenatide.
- 1995
LifeScan development agreement
[1]Amylin entered a partnership with Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan division to further develop pramlintide.
Products and positioning
A biotechnology-oriented pharmaceutical company specializing in peptide-based therapies for diabetes and metabolic disease, with a focus on improving glucose regulation and developing longer-acting injectable treatments.
Diabetes medicine · 2005
Symlin
Symlin is the brand name for pramlintide acetate, a synthetic analogue of amylin. It was developed to be used alongside insulin in selected patients with diabetes who have difficulty maintaining glycemic control. Its development involved extended regulatory review because of concerns about severe hypoglycemia, particularly in type 1 diabetes. The FDA approved it in 2005 for defined diabetic populations.
GLP-1-related diabetes medicine · 2005
Byetta
Byetta is the commercial name for exenatide, a synthetic version of exendin-4. Amylin licensed the underlying peptide from John Eng after its isolation from Gila monster venom. Exenatide has functional similarities to GLP-1 and was developed as an injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly joined Amylin in development and commercialization, and the product received U.S. approval in 2005.
Extended-release diabetes medicine
Bydureon
Bydureon is an extended-release formulation of exenatide developed from Amylin's Byetta program. Its formulation was intended to provide a longer-acting treatment option and reduce administration frequency compared with immediate-release exenatide. The product was developed during Amylin's collaboration with Eli Lilly and became part of the diabetes portfolio transferred through the Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca transactions.
Metabolic disease medicine · 2014
Myalept
Myalept is the brand name for metreleptin, an analogue of human leptin. The program was originally developed at Amylin and was approved by the FDA in 2014 as replacement therapy, in addition to diet, for complications associated with congenital generalized or acquired generalized lipodystrophy. AstraZeneca later sold rights to acquire and commercialize the product to Aegerion Pharmaceuticals.
Brand decisions
2014
Transfer commercialization of metreleptinM&ABackground
Metreleptin, a legacy Amylin program, had received FDA approval as Myalept for specified complications of generalized lipodystrophy.
Action taken
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals paid AstraZeneca approximately $325 million to acquire and commercialize metreleptin.
Cash payment for metreleptin rights. $325 million (2014 transaction)
2013
Close San Diego operations and integrate remaining activitiesStrategyBackground
After the acquisition, the new owners reorganized Amylin's operations rather than maintaining it as an independent company.
Action taken
Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the planned closure of Amylin's San Diego operations by the end of 2014 and the integration of the West Chester, Ohio, manufacturing facility and field sales personnel.
Aftermath
Amylin's corporate identity and standalone operating structure were discontinued, while its products continued under successor-company ownership.
2013
AstraZeneca acquires Bristol-Myers Squibb's diabetes venture interestM&ABackground
The former Amylin assets were held within a diabetes joint venture established by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca.
Action taken
AstraZeneca purchased Bristol-Myers Squibb's share of the venture and became the sole owner of the former Amylin products and business.
Aftermath
The Amylin portfolio continued within AstraZeneca rather than as a separately operated company.
2012
Agree to acquisition by Bristol-Myers SquibbM&ABackground
Amylin had developed a commercial diabetes portfolio comprising Symlin, Byetta, and Bydureon, but no longer remained independent after years of development and partnership activity.
Action taken
Bristol-Myers Squibb announced an agreement to acquire Amylin for approximately $5.3 billion. AstraZeneca made a cash payment of approximately $3.4 billion in connection with the diabetes joint venture.
Aftermath
Amylin's business was incorporated into the Bristol-Myers Squibb–AstraZeneca diabetes venture, and AstraZeneca later became its sole owner.
Acquisition value. $5.3 billion (2012 announced transaction)
2002
Partner exenatide development with Eli LillyStrategyBackground
Amylin had licensed exendin-4 and was developing exenatide as a diabetes treatment, but commercialization required a larger pharmaceutical partner.
Action taken
Eli Lilly entered a development and commercialization agreement with Amylin. The agreement was reported as involving a $325 million payment.
Reported partnership payment. $325 million (2002 agreement)
1998
Restructure to preserve cashStrategyBackground
After the LifeScan collaboration ended, Amylin needed to conserve resources while continuing the regulatory program for pramlintide.
Action taken
Chief executive Joseph C. Cook Jr. reduced the workforce substantially and raised capital from investors.
Aftermath
The company continued developing Symlin and advanced exenatide with Eli Lilly, eventually obtaining approvals for Symlin and Byetta in 2005.
1995
Partner pramlintide development with LifeScanStrategyBackground
Amylin sought external development support for pramlintide, its synthetic amylin analogue, as the compound moved toward later-stage clinical testing.
Action taken
The company signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan division to further develop the program.
Aftermath
The collaboration ended in 1998, after clinical development had produced encouraging but still incomplete evidence.
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