EU and US could reach trade deal this weekend - Reuters
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), a pharmaceutical giant with a market capitalization of $710 billion and impressive revenue growth of 36% over the last twelve months, has acquired gene therapy company Verve for $1 billion, with an additional $300 million contingent value right upon first patient dosing with VERVE-102 in a U.S. Phase 3 trial, UBS confirmed Wednesday.
The acquisition follows a previous collaboration between the companies, where Eli Lilly had already invested $60 million upfront in Verve for a preclinical asset and paid $250 million to secure rights to PCSK9, ANGPTL3, and another undisclosed target. According to InvestingPro analysis, Eli Lilly maintains a "GREAT" financial health score, suggesting strong capability for strategic acquisitions.
UBS analyst Trung Huynh reiterated a Buy rating on Eli Lilly stock with a $1,050.00 price target, describing the acquisition as a sensible "bolt on" for the pharmaceutical giant.
The deal positions Eli Lilly to offer potentially differentiated once-in-a-lifetime dosed gene therapies against competitors with injectable or oral treatments, assuming the therapies demonstrate clean safety profiles.
UBS noted important synergies between Verve’s atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) targeted therapies and Eli Lilly’s existing obesity and diabetes treatments, which could strengthen the company’s cardiovascular and metabolic health franchise offerings.
In other recent news, Eli Lilly and Company announced its acquisition of Verve Therapeutics for approximately $1.3 billion, enhancing its gene-editing capabilities. This strategic move is seen as a significant step in gene-editing technology, with Bernstein maintaining an Outperform rating and a $1,100 price target for Eli Lilly. The deal includes Verve’s innovative lipid nano-particle delivery technology, which aligns with Eli Lilly’s focus on cardiometabolic conditions. Analysts from Citizens JMP view this acquisition as a positive signal for the gene-editing sector, potentially catalyzing interest from other major pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Eli Lilly’s weight loss medication, Zepbound, continues to show strong sales, prompting Bernstein to reiterate its positive outlook on the stock. The company has also announced that all doses of Zepbound will be available for $499 or less per month through its Self Pay Journey Program, aiming to improve accessibility. These developments underscore Eli Lilly’s commitment to expanding its presence in the genetic medicine and obesity treatment markets.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.