Eli Lilly Acquires Verve Therapeutics for $1.3 Billion to Advance Gene Editing for Heart Disease
- Thy TX NGUYEN
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
Eli Lilly has announced it will acquire Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3 billion. The deal will help Lilly develop gene-editing treatments for heart disease. Lilly will pay $10.50 per share for Verve and an additional $3.00 per share if certain milestones are met. This acquisition aims to introduce new, one-time therapies for individuals at high cardiovascular risk, shifting the focus from long-term treatments to more permanent solutions.
Verve Therapeutics, founded in 2018, focuses on base-editing therapies for cardiovascular disease. Their leading program, VERVE-102, targets the PCSK9 gene to lower LDL cholesterol, often called "bad cholesterol." This treatment could offer a one-time fix instead of requiring lifelong medication. VERVE-102 is already in clinical trials and was granted FDA Fast Track designation in April 2025.
In addition to VERVE-102, Verve is working on two other therapies: VERVE-201, targeting the ANGPTL3 gene for patients with severe cholesterol issues, and VERVE-301, which is still in early-stage development. These therapies aim to treat the root causes of heart disease, rather than just managing symptoms. With Lilly’s resources, Verve’s treatments can progress faster.
Sekar Kathiresan, Verve’s CEO, is excited about the partnership with Lilly, believing their global reach will help speed up the development of these therapies. Ruth Gimeno, from Lilly, shared that VERVE-102 could be the first gene-editing treatment for a wide range of heart disease patients, potentially transforming care in the field.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending approval. This acquisition strengthens Lilly’s position in gene therapy and could bring groundbreaking treatments to patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Created: July 20th, 2025
Citations:
O'Hanlon Cohrt, K. (2025, June 17). Eli Lilly to acquire Verve Therapeutics to advance one-time cardiovascular treatments. CMN Live.
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