Eli Lilly to acquire biotech Merida Biosciences for $2.9 billion



09/01/2026 8:33 AM


Eli Lilly & Co., a pharmaceutical firm, intends to purchase biotech Merida Biosciences, known for creating therapies for autoimmune and allergic conditions, according to a company statement reported by Bloomberg.



Momoneymoproblemz
Eli Lilly is set to pay as much as $2.88 billion in cash for Merida. It will provide part of the payment initially, with subsequent milestone payments linked to product development progress. The agreement is anticipated to finalize in the fourth quarter of this year.

Merida is a privately-owned firm that creates medications aimed at autoantibodies linked to different ailments while preserving the normal function of the immune system. Its most sophisticated product is presently undergoing Phase I clinical trials: a therapy for Graves' disease and thyroid eye condition.

Eli Lilly is engaged in an extraordinary acquisition effort, revealing agreements exceeding $20 billion since the start of the year, according to Bloomberg. The firm is utilizing the revenue from the sale of its well-known weight-loss products Zepbound and Mounjaro to expand its pharmaceutical portfolio.

Eli Lilly's main emphasis is on incorporating early-stage medications into its pipeline, striving to establish itself as the producer of the next blockbuster, according to Bloomberg.

source: bloomberg.com

 


More