Lilly Acquires Orna Therapeutics for Cell Therapy Advancements
- Lilly will acquire Orna for up to $2.4 billion, including milestone payments.
- Orna's lead program, ORN-252, targets B cell-driven autoimmune diseases.
- Orna uses circular RNA and lipid nanoparticles for in vivo CAR-T therapies.
- Lilly's acquisition aims to simplify and expand access to cell therapies.
Acquisition Details
Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Orna Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm focused on engineering immune cells in vivo. The acquisition deal is valued at up to $2.4 billion, which includes an upfront payment and additional payments contingent on achieving specific clinical development milestones.
Orna's Innovative Approach
Orna is pioneering a new class of therapeutics using engineered circular RNA combined with novel lipid nanoparticles. This technology enables the patient's body to produce cell therapies that target underlying diseases. Orna's lead program, ORN-252, is a clinical trial-ready, CD19 targeting in vivo Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy aimed at treating B cell-driven autoimmune diseases.
Potential Benefits
Orna's circular RNA platform may offer more durable expression of therapeutic proteins, potentially unlocking treatments not feasible with current RNA or cell therapy platforms. This approach could simplify the complexity, cost, and logistics associated with ex vivo CAR-T therapies, making them more accessible to a broader patient population.
Strategic Implications
Lilly's acquisition of Orna is expected to provide a broad platform for long-term innovation in genetic medicine and in vivo cell engineering. The collaboration aims to develop a new class of genetic medicines and cell therapies for patients with limited or no treatment options. The transaction will be reflected in Lilly's financial results and guidance following its closure.
Source: Lilly