Eli Lilly and Company has announced a definitive agreement to acquire San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Ventyx Biosciences, strengthening Lilly’s portfolio in inflammatory-mediated diseases.
The all-cash transaction values Ventyx at approximately $1.2 billion, representing a 62% premium over the company’s 30-day average stock price, and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Ventyx is developing a pipeline of small molecule therapeutics, including NLRP3 inhibitors, targeting inflammation across a wide range of conditions with high unmet need, such as cardiometabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease. Key programs include VTX2735 for recurrent pericarditis and VTX3232 for cardiovascular and neuroinflammatory conditions, with early-stage trials also underway for Parkinson’s disease.
The acquisition will build on Lilly’s expertise in inflammatory-mediated diseases and broaden its capabilities in oral therapies designed to offer improved efficacy and safety. Both companies’ boards have approved the transaction, and major shareholders have committed to supporting the deal.
Financial and legal advisory roles for the transaction include BofA Securities and Ropes & Gray for Lilly, and Jefferies, Moelis & Company, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati for Ventyx.
Lilly continues its commitment to developing innovative treatments for challenging conditions, leveraging advanced drug discovery and clinical development to address chronic inflammation and related diseases.
