Eli Lilly plans to acquire biotechnology company Centessa for up to $7.8 billions.

Luo Tonghui March 31｜Eli Lilly announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, with a total transaction value of up to $7.8 billion. Eli Lilly will acquire Centessa shares for $38 in cash per share, representing a 40.5% premium over its volume-weighted average price on the 30th; if regulatory milestones are achieved in the future, each share may receive up to an additional $9. This acquisition will grant Eli Lilly ownership of Centessa's orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist product line, including cleminorexton, which is considered a potential best-in-class therapy for sleep-wake disorders such as narcolepsy type 1 and type 2 as well as idiopathic hypersomnia. The portfolio also includes several early-stage candidate drugs with potential in the broader neurological and neuropsychiatric disease fields.