Lilly Expands Verve Gene Therapy Rights with $600 Million Deal for Cardiovascular Base Editing Programs

▎WuXi

Edited by Kant Content Team

Today, Beam Therapeutics and Verve Therapeutics announced an agreement whereby Eli Lilly and Company has agreed to obtain certain rights under the amended collaboration and license agreement between Beam and Verve, including the option to co-develop and commercialize base editing programs for cardiovascular diseases. These programs include projects targeting PCSK9, ANGPTL3, and undisclosed liver-mediated cardiovascular targets.This is Eli Lilly's collaboration with Verve Therapeutics, Inc. reached in June this year.Research and Development AgreementThis further expansion also symbolizes Eli Lilly's emphasis on the gene therapy field.

Verve’s PCSK9-targeting candidate therapies VERVE-101 and VERVE-102, as well as the ANGPTL3-targeting investigational therapy VERVE-201, aim to effectively and durably lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol throughout the lifetime of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or those at risk of developing ASCVD, which is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases.

It is worth noting thatVERVE-101, a single-base editor modified using the CRISPR system.The difference between single-base editing therapy and CRISPR gene editing is that it does not cut the DNA double strand, which may reduce the risk of introducing potential mutations. VERVE-101 achieves the effect of inactivating PCSK9 by making a single A-to-G change in the DNA sequence encoding PCSK9. PCSK9 is a popular target for lowering LDL-C, and the efficacy of inhibiting its activity has been validated by multiple FDA-approved therapies. VERVE-101 was approved last week.Approved by the U.S. FDAIND Application for Reducing Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) Patients. According to the press release, this is the first base editing therapy to be approved for clinical trials in the United States.

Image Source: Verve Therapeutics, Inc. Official Website

According to the cooperation agreement,Beam Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $200 million and an equity investment worth $50 million. Additionally, contingent on the achievement of specific clinical, regulatory, and collaboration milestones, Beam Therapeutics may receive up to an additional $350 million, bringing the total potential payments to $600 million.

Eli Lilly's growing focus on gene therapy is reflected in its recent deals.This month, Eli Lilly acquired Akouos and gained access to its investigational potential "first-in-class" gene therapy for hearing loss. In December 2020, Eli Lilly acquired Prevail Therapeutics, a company focused on developing gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, Eli Lilly invested $700 million to build a state-of-the-art 12-story genetic medicine research institute in Boston to strengthen its development of gene-based therapeutic approaches.