Lilly to Acquire Biotech Firm Orna in $2.4 Billion Deal

Eli Lilly has announced its acquisition of Orna Therapeutics, a developer of in vivo CAR-T therapies, in a deal valued at up to $2.4 billion, according to pharmaphorum. This marks the company’s second strategic agreement to expand its product portfolio within two days.

In vivo CAR-T therapy is an innovative cancer treatment method where immune cells (T-cells) are genetically modified directly inside the patient’s body, rather than in a laboratory (ex vivo).

The Watertown, Massachusetts-based biotech company is developing a new class of CAR-T therapies using circular RNA and lipid nanoparticles for delivery, allowing the patient’s own body to generate the necessary cell therapies. Lilly notes that the technology has the potential to provide more sustained expression of therapeutic proteins compared to existing RNA and cellular platforms.

Unlike many developers of in vivo cell therapies that focus primarily on oncology, Orna is developing treatments for B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases. The company plans to initiate clinical trials for its lead candidate, ORN-252, later this year.

Orna’s platform has already attracted interest from other major pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co., as well as Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Moderna, which have entered into partnerships with the biotech startup.

The acquisition comes shortly after Lilly announced a strategic alliance with China’s Innovent Biologics, involving an upfront payment of $350 million and a potential total value of up to $8.8 billion. Earlier this year, the company also agreed to acquire Ventyx Bio for $1.2 billion, highlighting its active strategy to expand its developmental pipeline.

According to Lilly, the development of in vivo cell therapies could overcome the limitations of traditional CAR-T approaches, which are often complex, expensive, and logistically challenging to administer. The deal includes an initial payment and additional milestone-based payments tied to clinical development achievements.