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US-based Eli Lilly and Company has announced agreements to acquire three companies, Curevo Inc., LimmaTech Biologics AG, and Vaccine Company, Inc., that expand its research and development efforts into infectious disease. The transactions advance Lilly's strategy of investing in differentiated technology platforms to address significant health problems.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire Curevo and Curevo shareholders could receive up to $1.5 billion in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment and subsequent payment upon achievement of a specified milestone. Curevo's lead product candidate is amezosvatein, an adjuvanted subunit vaccine for the prevention of shingles in adults.
Further, Lilly will acquire LimmaTech for up to $780 million in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment and additional potential payments based upon the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones. LimmaTech Biologics is developing vaccines against bacterial pathogens for which rising antimicrobial resistance is steadily closing therapeutic options, including Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis.
On the other hand, Lilly will acquire Vaccine Company and Vaccine Company shareholders could receive up to $1.55 billion in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment and subsequent payments upon achievement of certain clinical and commercial milestones. Vaccine Company is developing proprietary In Vivo Nanoparticle (IVN) technologies designed to enable the antigen display known to elicit durable immune responses associated with virus-like particle vaccines, while avoiding the manufacturing burden of traditional VLP production.
