Eli Lilly has agreed to acquire Ventyx Biosciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral therapies for patients with inflammatory-mediated diseases. 

Ventyx is developing a pipeline of small molecule therapeutics, including NLRP3 inhibitors, designed to treat inflammation across a broad range of disease states with high unmet need.  

These include opportunities across cardiometabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory disorders. The company’s clinical-stage programmes target key immune pathways with the goal of offering improved efficacy and safety compared to existing treatments. 

“There is increasing evidence that inflammation is a key driver of many chronic diseases,” said Daniel Skovronsky, Chief Scientific and Product Officer, and President of Lilly Research Laboratories. “Ventyx’sclinical-stage pipeline addresses a critical need for better treatment options across diseases mediated by chronic inflammation and further strengthens our ability to deliver meaningful advances for patients living with challenging diseases across focus areas of cardiometabolic health, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity.” 

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Ventyx for $14.00 per share of common stock in an all-cash transaction (equal to an aggregate equity value of approximately $1.2 billion). 

“Our portfolio of class-leading NLRP3 inhibitors modulate residual and chronic inflammation that is now recognised as a major risk factor in a host of neuroinflammatory, cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases,” said Raju Mohan, Chief Executive Officer of Ventyx Biosciences. “We believe that Lilly is an ideal strategic partner, with unparalleled resources, a passion for innovative oral drugs and a commitment to advance novel therapies that fill a vast unmet need for patients suffering from these debilitating diseases and disorders.”

Diana Turner, Deputy Editor, DDW