Eli Lilly to acquire Merida Biosciences for up to $2.88 billion

Eli Lilly Merida Biosciences autoimmune diseases biotechnology acquisition precision therapeutics

Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Merida Biosciences, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology firm, for up to $2.88 billion in cash. The deal includes an upfront payment and additional milestone-based payments contingent on clinical and regulatory achievements. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The acquisition is part of Eli Lilly’s strategy to diversify its portfolio beyond its highly successful obesity and diabetes treatments, such as Mounjaro and Zepbound. By acquiring Merida, Lilly gains access to a precision therapeutic platform designed to selectively degrade pathogenic autoantibodies rather than broadly suppressing the immune system.

Merida’s lead candidate, MER511, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease (TED). The company’s broader pipeline also includes preclinical programs targeting food allergies, asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and certain kidney diseases. Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Eli Lilly’s senior vice president of immunology research, stated the company aims to build a portfolio around therapies that “meaningfully change the course of disease, not just its downstream effects.”

Entities

Adam Townsend · Cambridge, Massachusetts · Eli Lilly and Company · Evan Seigerman · Francisco Ramírez-Valle · Merida Biosciences · Merida Biosciences, Inc. · Mounjaro · Zepbound

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The acquisition cost could reach up to $2.88 billion in cash. massive.news · drug-dev.com · www.mononews.gr
[● 4 SOURCES] Eli Lilly has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Merida Biosciences, Inc. massive.news · drug-dev.com · www.mononews.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] Eli Lilly has announced more than $20 billion in deals so far in 2026. massive.news · www.mononews.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] Merida Biosciences develops biologics designed to selectively degrade pathogenic autoantibodies without broadly suppressing the immune system. drug-dev.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Graves’ disease affects approximately 3 million people in the United States. drug-dev.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Merida's pipeline includes MER769, a preclinical program for food allergies, asthma, and chronic spontaneous urticaria. drug-dev.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Eli Lilly is using revenue from Zepbound and Mounjaro to diversify its pharmaceutical pipeline. massive.news · www.mononews.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The MER511 clinical program is in Phase 1 development for Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease (TED). drug-dev.com