Biopharma strikes 50+ M&As deals in H1, led by Lilly’s $25B spend
Biopharma strikes 50+ M&As deals in H1, led by Lilly’s $25B spend. (BioSpace.)
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a major global pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio spanning diabetes/obesity, oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and rare diseases. Its GLP-1 franchise (Mounjaro/tirzepatide, Zepbound) and the oral GLP-1 candidate orforglipron are reshaping obesity care. Lilly has been the most aggressive large-pharma dealmaker of the past decade, completing more biotech buyouts than any other top-12 pharma by revenue, with 10 acquisitions in 2026 alone accounting for roughly half of pharma's total M&A capacity (~$25B+ committed).
Company Info
Sector:Pharmaceutical / Therapeutics
Headquarters:Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Founded:1876
Website:www.lilly.com/
Upcoming Milestones & Key Dates
Mid-2026
Launch
Commercial launch of Foundayo (orforglipron) for weight management and diabetes
Late 2026
Earnings
Q3 2026 Earnings — tirzepatide franchise growth and pipeline update
Q4 2026
Business Development
Q3 2026 M&A integration update — 10 biotech acquisitions completed in 2026 (~$25B+ spent)
Clinical Development Pipeline
Mounjaro / Zepbound (tirzepatide)
Target: Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonistOrforglipron (Foundayo)
Target: Oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonistDonanemab
Target: Anti-amyloid beta p3-42 antibody (modified)Recent News
Eli Lilly transfers commercialization rights for breast cancer drug in China
Eli Lilly transfers commercialization rights for breast cancer drug in China. (Reuters Biopharma.)
Eli Lilly and Regeneron among 7 companies picked for FDA PreCheck pilot program
Eli Lilly and Regeneron among 7 companies picked for FDA PreCheck pilot program. (BioSpace.)
Lilly deepens relationship with China’s Abbisko for $1.9B biobucks
Lilly has already spent more than $25 billion in potential business development commitments this year, including the $6.3 billion buyout of Centessa Pharmaceuticals that closed today.
UPDATE: Lilly, Astellas circle Sangamo assets as biotech files for bankruptcy
Sangamo Therapeutics will lay off 51 members of its workforce while retaining 77 people to continue work on the programs central to Astellas and Eli Lilly's bids.
BioArctic and Lilly sign research and collaboration agreement combining Lilly compound with BioArctic's BrainTransporter technology
BioArctic and Lilly sign research and collaboration agreement combining Lilly compound with BioArctic's BrainTransporter technology.
Lilly bets up to $800M for BioArctic’s brain delivery tech
Eli Lilly plans to use BioArctic’s technology to shuttle an undisclosed drug candidate into the brain. The pharma hasn’t specified which neurodegenerative disease it will target.
Eli Lilly cuts hospitals' 340B pricing over data policy dispute
Eli Lilly is cutting 340B drug pricing to hospitals that fail to comply with its claims data policy.
Exclusive: Lilly's TuneLab crosses 100-member mark, adds AI models from buzzy startup Chai
Lilly's TuneLab AI platform has crossed the 100-member mark and added AI models from Chai.
Alkermes' incoming CEO has a plan to outplay Lilly and Takeda
Alkermes' incoming CEO has a plan to outplay Lilly and Takeda. (BioPharma Dive.)
Lilly sees quick return on $2.3B Ajax buy as blood cancer drug shows early efficacy
Eli Lilly’s new JAK2 inhibitor—which it obtained from the recent acquisition of Ajax Therapeutics—reduced spleen volume by more than a third in 70% of patients with myelofibrosis.
Lilly's $2.3B Ajax Drug Works 'Right Out of the Gate' in First Clinical Data
Eli Lilly's lead asset from its $2.3B acquisition of Ajax Therapeutics, a JAK2 inhibitor, showed 'started working right out of the gate, with a good safety profile' in early clinical data, validating the deal thesis.
ADA: Lilly Bests Novo Again, Takes GLP-1 Pill Foundayo to FDA for Diabetes Approval
Eli Lilly has submitted Foundayo, its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, to the FDA for diabetes approval on the strength of head-to-head Phase 3 data presented at ADA showing superior A1C reduction versus Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill.
ADA: Lilly Sets 'New Record in Weight Loss Olympics' With Next-Gen Asset
Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity candidate produced a 'new record' weight reduction in a Phase 2 readout at ADA, extending Lilly's lead in the highly competitive injectable obesity space.
Eli Lilly Invests in Startup Abridge for Clinical Trial Recruitment
Eli Lilly has made a strategic investment in Abridge, the AI medical scribe company, to accelerate clinical trial recruitment and reduce site burden, deepening the pharma's footprint in generative AI healthcare tools.
Lilly's $25B+ M&A Spree Captures Half of Pharma's 2026 Capacity
Eli Lilly's $25B+ in biotech acquisitions through 2026 represents roughly half of total pharma M&A spending in the year, underscoring the company's aggressive dealmaking to refill its pipeline as GLP-1 sales surge.
AHA urges HRSA to stop Novo Nordisk's new claims-data submission policy for 340B
On January 26, the AHA urged HRSA to take immediate action to stop Eli Lilly from requiring 340B covered entities to submit claims data for all dispensations of all Lilly drugs.
Leadership Team
Careers & Job Openings