What is "icos"

Icos Corporation (trademark ICOS) was the largest biotechnology company in the U.S. state of Washington before it was sold to Eli Lilly and Company in 2007. It was founded in 1989 by David Blech, Isaac Blech, Robert Nowinski, and George Rathmann, a pioneer in the industry and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of Amgen, Icos focused on the development of drugs to treat inflammatory disorders. During its 17-year history, the company conducted clinical trials of twelve drugs, three of which reached the last phase of clinical trials. Icos also manufactured antibodies for other biotechnology companies.

Icos is famous for tadalafil (Cialis), a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. This drug was discovered by GlaxoSmithKline, developed by Icos, and manufactured and marketed in partnership with Eli Lilly. Boosted by a unique advertising campaign led by the Grey Worldwide Agency, sales from Cialis allowed Icos to become profitable in 2006. Cialis was the only drug developed by the company to be approved. LeukArrest, a drug to treat shock, and Pafase, developed for sepsis, were both tested in phase III clinical trials, but testing was discontinued after unpromising results during the trials. Eli Lilly acquired Icos in January 2007, and most of Icos's workers were laid off soon after. CMC Biopharmaceuticals, a Danish contract manufacturer, bought the remnants of Icos and retained the remaining employees.

ICOS was the largest biotechnology company in the U.S. state of Washington.

ICOS may also refer to:

• The International Code of Maritime Signals
• Integrated Carbon Observation System
• The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS)
• International Council of Onomastic Sciences
• The Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society
• CD278 or ICOS, a CD28-superfamily costimulatory molecule
• Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy, a type of laser absorption spectrometry
• .ico Files