Eli Lilly Acquires Verve Therapeutics

Eli Lilly Acquires Versanis Bio

July 14, 2023

Biotechnology

Eli Lilly has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Versanis Bio, a private clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing bimagrumab for cardiometabolic diseases and obesity. The deal could deliver up to $1.925 billion to Versanis shareholders and is intended to combine Versanis’ activin/myostatin biology expertise with Lilly’s incretin portfolio to advance combination treatments for obesity and related cardiometabolic conditions.

Novartis Acquires Vedere Bio

September 30, 2020

Biotechnology

Novartis has acquired Vedere Bio, a Cambridge-based optogenetics AAV gene therapy company, for $150 million upfront plus up to $130 million in potential regulatory and clinical milestones (total consideration of $280 million). The deal includes Vedere Bio's lead preclinical intravitreal AAV programs focused on pan-genotypic vision restoration; earlier-stage assets were spun out into a newly formed independent company, Vedere Bio II.

Merck & Co., Inc. Acquires VelosBio Inc.

November 5, 2020

Biotechnology

Merck & Co., Inc. will acquire all outstanding shares of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company VelosBio for $2.75 billion in cash. The acquisition adds VelosBio's lead investigational antibody-drug conjugate VLS-101 and ROR1-directed pipeline assets to Merck's oncology portfolio and is expected to close by the end of 2020, subject to customary conditions.

AbbVie Acquires Cerevel Therapeutics

December 6, 2023

Biotechnology

AbbVie Inc. acquired Cerevel Therapeutics for $45.00 per share, valuing Cerevel at approximately $8.7 billion, to bolster AbbVie's neuroscience pipeline. The deal adds Cerevel's clinical-stage assets—including emraclidine, tavapadon, CVL-354 and darigabat—and is intended to expand AbbVie's capabilities and commercial potential in psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Vigene Biosciences

May 17, 2021

Biotechnology

Charles River Laboratories agreed to acquire Vigene Biosciences, a Rockville, Maryland-based gene therapy CDMO, for $292.5 million in cash plus up to $57.5 million in contingent payments. The acquisition expands Charles River's cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing capabilities—adding CGMP viral vector and plasmid DNA production—and is expected to close in early Q3 2021.

Eli Lilly Acquires Adverum Biotechnologies

December 9, 2025

Biotechnology

Eli Lilly, through its wholly owned subsidiary Flying Tigers Acquisition Corporation, completed a tender offer to acquire Adverum Biotechnologies. Shareholders tendered approximately 64% of outstanding shares for $3.56 per share plus one contingent value right (CVR) per share (up to $8.91 aggregate upon milestone achievement); the parties expect to consummate the merger on December 9, 2025.