Morphic Acquired by Eli Lilly

The biopharmaceutical business Morphic Holding was acquired by Eli Lilly and business for $57 per share, in an investment intended to strengthen the company’s inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pipeline.

The $3.2 billion transaction was first finalised in July 2024 and would help Lilly improve therapy choices for IBD patients.

When it comes to creating oral integrin therapies for severe long-term illnesses, Morphic has been leading the way. Its treatment for IBD involves the use of MORF-057, an effective oral tiny molecule inhibitor of α4β7 integrin.

Lilly chief scientific officer Daniel Skovronsky commented: “We are committed to exploring innovative approaches for immunologic diseases and believe Morphic’s pipeline holds promise in improving outcomes and expanding treatment options for people with devastating conditions like IBD.’’

He continued: “Acquiring Morphic reinforces our growing capabilities in gastroenterology, building on the strong foundation of Omvoh, our first-in-class molecule already approved and launched around the world for ulcerative colitis and under regulatory review for Crohn’s disease. Further, the acquisition allows Lilly to research potential combination treatments that could better serve people beyond what is possible with currently available medicines.”