Eli Lilly Enters $650M Collaboration with Juvena Therapeutics to Develop Muscle-Enhancing Endocrine Therapies

In fact, fromAfter GLP-1 was clearly identified to have the side effect of muscle loss, fat reduction and muscle gain became a key focus for major GLP-1 manufacturers, including Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, and Roche.

WithGLP-1 drugs are taking up an increasingly larger share of revenue, especially with the rapid growth of the GLP-1 weight-loss market. Eli Lilly and Company's investment focus is also continuously shifting towards this area.The combination of GLP-1 drugs.

Recently, Eli Lilly and Company has made another investmentLaunched a muscle project for itsGLP-1 Drug Adds Another Potential Combination for Fat Reduction and Muscle Gain. According to reports, the collaboration agreement includes an undisclosed upfront payment and milestone payments exceeding $650 million.

June 11, 2025, Eli Lilly and CompanyJuvena TherapeuticsReach a global licensing and multi-target research collaboration to discover, develop, and commercialize candidate drugs that improve muscle health and body composition. This collaboration will leverageJuvena Therapeutics, Inc.JuvNET Platform Identifies Muscle-Targeting Drug Candidates from Its Proprietary Library of Human Stem Cell Secreted Proteins to Improve Body Composition and Muscle Health.

JuvNET Platform is an AI-driven discovery platform capable of screening a library of human stem cell-secreted proteins for therapeutic potential. To date, the platform has identified more than 50 secreted proteins across various metabolic diseases and organ systems.

JJuvena BaseInThe JuvNET platform has discovered multiple pipelines, with the leading candidate drugJUV-161 has advanced to human clinical trials.JUV-161 is aMuscle Regeneration Endocrine Therapy is a fusion protein designed from proteins naturally secreted by stem cells. It enhances muscle regeneration through myocyte generation promotion, insulin resistance regulation, and anti-inflammatory properties, and is being developed for the treatment ofType 1 Myotonic Dystrophy (DM1) and Sarcopenia. Additionally, JUV-161 was granted FDA authorization in 2024.DM1 Granted Orphan Drug Designation.

Eli Lilly believes that this endocrine therapy may benefit weight loss patients, and Eli Lilly has obtained exclusive licenses for lead candidate drugs targeting multiple targets. According to the agreementArticle,JuvenaWill receive upfront payments, equity investments, and potential development and commercialization milestone payments. Juvena Therapeutics will grant Eli Lilly and Company an exclusive license to the identified lead candidate, and Eli Lilly and Company will be responsible for further research, development, and commercialization.

In summary, this collaboration willEli LillyThe surge in demand for GLP-1 drugs presents a potential solution to drive muscle growth while also addressing the needs of elderly individuals experiencing loss of lean body mass.

In fact, Eli Lilly and Company started to address the potential muscle loss caused by GLP-1 long ago. 2023Year, Eli LillyFor up to $1.92 billion in acquisitionCompletedVersanis BiO, obtainedActRII AntibodyBimagrumab, itsBy combining ActRII to block its signalingThe pathway stimulates skeletal muscle growth, theoretically achieving the effect of fat reduction and muscle gain. Eli Lilly and Company is expected to report data from a Phase 2 trial this year, which is evaluatingBimagrumab and Novo Nordisk'sThe Combination Effect of Semaglutide.

In fact, regardingThe muscle loss potentially caused by GLP-1 fat-reduction treatments has led to the emergence of an important strategy: "muscle building." At the same time, based onThe rapid growth of the GLP-1 weight-loss market has created a significant demand for muscle gain. As a result, the pharmaceutical industry has recently become more active in the exploration and development of drugs that reduce fat and increase muscle.

In recent years, including Merck, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Roche, and AstraZeneca have been actively expanding their muscle growth pipelines, among which...With ActRII as the main core, and asThe advancement of the ActRII project and the positive data readouts may ignite market enthusiasm for muscle growth, potentially leading to more developments in the future.IncreaseMuscularAuthorized Transaction.