Cialis is manufactured by a joint venture between ICOS, a relatively small biotech company based in Washington State, and Eli Lilly the Indianapolis pharmaceuticals giant. They have formed a 50/50 owned joint venture named Lilly-ICOS, to develop and commercialize phosphodietrase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5s). The first drug successfully brought to the market by this joint venture is Cialis (tadalafil).

ICOS is a Bothell, Washington - based company that began operations in 1990. Many of the original staff of 65 are still members of the now 675 members of the ICOS community. Cialis is the breakthrough drug for the treatment of impotence first developed by ICOS now formed into a 50/50 partnership with Eli Lilly. Cialis, as was discovered by the researchers at ICOS, is a member of the family of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. The scientists discovered that the key to retaining an erection was a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) Cialis is a medicine that preserves elevated levels of cGMP that are created when a man is sexually stimulated, for a stronger, more lasting erection.

With the formation of the partnership of Ely Lilly into Lilly ICOS, the company has huge marketing ‘clout’. Cialis was introduced into Europe two years ago and is the biggest selling ED treatment in France. The drug is worldwide and is now used by millions of men with impotence problems.

ICOS, the innovative biotech company, has a strong research and development team and is determined to build on the success of Cialis. With other product candidates in the pipeline they are poised to become a strong commercial organization.