Eli Lilly has announced significant investments aimed at bolstering its oncology and immunology pipelines, committing up to $11.25 billion through two major deals. The pharmaceutical giant will acquire Orna Therapeutics for $2.4 billion, focusing on innovative in vivo chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Additionally, Lilly has entered a collaboration with Innovent Biologics valued at up to $8.85 billion to develop new treatments in oncology and immunology.
This strategic move comes as Lilly seeks to diversify its portfolio beyond its successful obesity drug tirzepatide, which generated over $36 billion in sales last year. Chief Scientific Officer Daniel Skovronsky emphasized the company’s commitment to investing in high-potential areas like oncology and immunology, highlighting the substantial market opportunities available.
Despite the promising outlook, the stock market reaction has been tepid, with Lilly shares declining following the announcements. Analysts note that while the acquisition of Orna enhances Lilly’s capabilities, in vivo CAR T technology remains a high-risk area, lacking extensive validation from large-scale clinical trials. Nevertheless, industry experts believe Lilly’s strong financial position will support these ambitious projects, potentially leading to significant advancements in cancer and immune disorder treatments.
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