▎WuXiEdited by Kant Content Team

Today, Eli Lilly and Company and Morphic Holding announced,Eli Lilly to Acquire Morphic Therapeutic for Approximately $3.2 Billion, and acquire its lead project, the investigational oral integrin therapy MORF-057 for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This acquisition will expand Eli Lilly's immunology pipeline.According to the industry media Endpoints News, this is Eli Lilly's first disclosed biotechnology company acquisition deal this year.

Morphic's main project is the development of MORF-057, a selective oral small-molecule α4β7 integrin inhibitor for the treatment of IBD., this therapy has the potential to improve patient outcomes and expand their treatment options.MORF-057Aimed at blocking the interaction between α4β7 integrin on the surface of lymphocytes and the mucosal endothelial cell ligand MAdCAM-1, significantly reducing the migration of lymphocytes from the bloodstream into the intestinal mucosal tissue, and avoiding inflammation associated with IBD.

MORF-057 is currently being evaluated in two Phase 2 studies for ulcerative colitis (UC) and one Phase 2 study for Crohn's disease.Last April, Morphic announced MORF-057EMERALD-1Positive Topline Data from the Main Cohort of the Phase 2a Clinical Trial.MORF-057 Met Primary Endpoint, with Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI) Scores in UC Patients Significantly Decreased by 6.4 Points from Baseline to Week 12 (p=0.002).In the pre-specified secondary endpoint, the change in the modified Mayo endoscopic score (mMCS), patients decreased by 2.3 points from baseline.

Morphic Therapeutic, Inc. has other preclinical pipelines in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and fibrotic diseases.Including severe chronic diseases such as cancer。In addition, the company has also collaborated with Schrödinger to advance its pipeline and discovery activities using its proprietary MInT technology platform.

According to the agreement,Eli Lilly to Acquire Morphic Therapeutic for Approximately $3.2 BillionThe transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies, is not subject to any financing conditions, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024.

Image Source: 123RF

The deal with Morphic marks Lilly's first biotech acquisition of the year.Last year, Eli Lilly significantly expanded its pipeline in various disease areas by completing multiple acquisition agreements.Last June, Eli Lilly and Company spent approximately $2.4 billion on the acquisition.Dice TherapeuticsDice's proprietary DELSCAPE technology platform is designed to develop innovative oral small-molecule drugs capable of influencing protein-protein interactions (PPI).Its oral IL-17 inhibitor is currently in clinical development for the treatment of immunological chronic diseases such as psoriasis.In the same month, Eli Lilly acquired Emergence Therapeutics, a company dedicated to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), obtaining its Nectin-4-targeted ADC therapy ETx-22. Eli Lilly also completed the acquisition for over $300 million.SigilonSigilon is committed to developing functional curative therapies for a wide range of acute and chronic diseases, including the encapsulated cell therapy for treating type 1 diabetes developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.

Last July, Eli Lilly and Company partnered with Morphic Therapeutic, a company specializing in new drugs for cardiometabolic diseases.Versanis BioEli Lilly and Company reached an agreement to acquire Versanis for up to approximately $1.9 billion, gaining access to its lead project, the potential "first-in-class" activin receptor type 2 (ActRII) targeted monoclonal antibody bimagrumab. In a Phase 2 clinical trial lasting 48 weeks,In overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, bimagrumab resulted in approximately 22% loss of fat mass and a 4.5% increase in lean body mass compared to placebo.In addition, in October 2023, Eli Lilly and Company reached agreements to acquire Mablink Bioscience and POINT Biopharma, respectively, to obtain Mablink's proprietary ADC platform PSARLink, as well as POINT Biopharma's next-generation radioligand cancer therapy pipeline.

Eli Lilly's Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Dr. Dan Skovronsky, in an interview with Endpoints News in the pastInterviewWhen时表示，The transactions completed by Eli Lilly are closely aligned with its areas of interest, strengths, and expertise. Eli Lilly is particularly focused on targets that have not been explored internally or are more advanced than its existing therapies, or that target the identified targets in different therapeutic approaches.When Eli Lilly has sufficient confidence in a target, the company is willing to make attempts from multiple directions, some of which may come from transactions with other companies.

▲To learn more about the application of cutting-edge technologies in the biopharmaceutical industry, please long-press and scan the QR code above to access "WuXi Live Studio" and watch live discussions and exciting replays on related topics.

References:

[1] Lilly to Acquire Morphic to Improve Outcomes for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Retrieved July 8, 2024 from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-to-acquire-morphic-to-improve-outcomes-for-patients-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease-302190489.html

[2] Morphic Reports Positive Topline Results of the EMERALD-1 UC Main Cohort; Orally Administered MORF-057 Achieves Primary Endpoint and Demonstrates Clinically Meaningful Improvements Across Secondary and Exploratory Measures. Retrieved July 8, 2024 from https://investor.morphictx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/morphic-reports-positive-topline-results-emerald-1-uc-main

[3] Lilly to acquire cancer antibody drug startup Emergence. Retrieved July 8, 2024 from https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/lilly-acquire-emergence-adc-cancer-drugs/654326/

[4] Lilly to Acquire POINT Biopharma to Expand Oncology Capabilities into Next-Generation Radioligand Therapies. Retrieved July 8, 2024 from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-to-acquire-point-biopharma-to-expand-oncology-capabilities-into-next-generation-radioligand-therapies-301945243.html

[5] Q&A: Lilly science chief Dan Skovronsky talks dealmaking, AI and consistent investing，Retrieved Oct 19, 2023 from https://endpts.com/qa-lilly-science-chief-dan-skovronsky-talks-dealmaking-ai-and-consistent-investing/

Disclaimer: The content team of WuXi AppTec focuses on introducing the research progress of global biopharmaceuticals and health. This article is for information exchange purposes only, and the views expressed in the article do not represent the position of WuXi AppTec, nor does it imply that WuXi AppTec supports or opposes the views mentioned. This article is not a recommendation for treatment plans. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a正规 hospital.

Copyright Statement: This article is from the WuXi AppTec content team. Individuals are welcome to share it on their social media circles, but unauthorized reproduction by media or institutions in any form to other platforms is strictly prohibited. For authorization to reproduce, please reply with "reprint" on the "WuXi AppTec" WeChat Official Account to obtain reprint guidelines.