Latest news with #EvanSeigerman
Canada News.Net
10 hours ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Eli Lilly bets on Verve, cholesterol gene therapy in $1.3 billion deal
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Eli Lilly is making a bold play in cardiovascular gene therapy, announcing plans to acquire its partner Verve Therapeutics for up to US$1.3 billion as it expands beyond its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs. The move signals the pharmaceutical giant's more profound commitment to developing one-time gene-editing treatments for heart disease — specifically targeting high cholesterol — through technologies like base editing. Under the agreement announced this week, Lilly will pay $10.5 per share for Verve, a 67.5 percent premium over the biotech's previous closing price. Verve shares surged 75 percent to $11.02 in early trading. The Financial Times was the first to report that the deal was in the works. The transaction includes nearly $1 billion in upfront payments and up to $300 million in milestone-based payouts. The companies had already been collaborating on experimental therapies that use gene editing to reduce cholesterol in patients with a history of cardiovascular issues — a significant focus area for Lilly as it seeks long-term growth. Verve's leading candidate, VERVE-102, is in early trials and targets the PCSK9 gene, which is linked to cholesterol regulation. The therapy, based on base editing, aims to make a one-time change to a patient's DNA and is expected to be launched later this decade. "We are skeptical about the true market need of additional genetic medicines in these indications," said BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman ahead of the announcement, citing competition from other cholesterol-lowering drugs. Still, industry observers said the deal is a significant boost for Verve and for the broader gene-editing field, which has struggled to attract investor enthusiasm recently. "This keeps Lilly focused within the cardiometabolic space," said Kevin Gade, COO at Bahl & Gaynor, referring to Lilly's core strength areas like diabetes and weight loss. Its therapies Mounjaro and Zepbound are projected to bring in over $30 billion this year, according to LSEG. Lilly has inked multiple partnerships with gene-editing firms in recent years, but this latest buyout is one of its boldest bets yet in the field.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Lilly to buy gene-editing partner Verve for up to US$1.3 billion in cardiac care push
This April 26, 2017, photo shows the Eli Lilly and Co. corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Eli Lilly will acquire gene-editing startup Verve Therapeutics for up to US$1.3 billion, the companies said on Tuesday, to boost its pipeline of experimental medicines beyond its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs. The U.S. drugmaker, which has struck multiple partnership deals with gene-editing companies in the last two years, will buy Verve for US$10.5 per share, which is at a premium of 67.5 per cent to the company's last close. Shares of Boston, Massachusetts-based Verve jumped 76 per cent to US$11.03 in premarket trading, while Lilly's stock fell one per cent. The deal includes an upfront payment of almost US$1 billion and a further US$300 million based on the genetic-medicines firm achieving certain clinical milestones. The Financial Times was the first to report that the companies were in talks. Lilly - the world's largest drugmaker by market capitalization - and Verve were already partnering to develop one-time gene-editing therapies to reduce high cholesterol in people with heart disease, which are expected to be used in combination with other drugs. 'We are skeptical about the true market need of additional genetic medicines in these indications,' BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said ahead of the deal, pointing to data from other cholesterol-lowering treatments developed by Merck and AstraZeneca. Verve's lead therapies, which are in early-stage trials, use a form of gene editing known as base editing that causes one-time changes to the DNA, potentially turning off genes that contribute to high cholesterol levels. Base editing is a next-generation form of gene editing which erases and rewrites a specific letter in a gene. The company is studying its VERVE-102 therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder that causes high levels of bad cholesterol and premature coronary artery disease. Verve's gene-editing medicines target the PCSK9, ANGPTL3 and LPA genes responsible for regulating blood cholesterol. --- Reporting by Ananya Palyekar, Christy Santhosh and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Pooja Desai
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US FDA pauses Gilead trials testing experimental HIV pill combination
By Sneha S K (Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has paused Gilead Sciences' trials testing a combination of two of its experimental HIV treatments due to low levels of a type of white blood cell in some patients, the company said on Tuesday. Shares of the company, a global leader in HIV drugs, were down 2.3% at $110.35. The agency placed the trials on hold after some patients who received the combination of the drugs, GS-1720 and GS-4182, were found to have low levels of a type of white blood cell called CD4+T-cell, the company said. Gilead did not provide more information on what caused the decline in the type of white blood cell, which is a key measurement in HIV management and serves as a guide for treatment. The company said it plans to investigate and will work with regulatory authorities to resolve the issues. The paused trials included two mid-to-late studies, and three more in the early phase, the company said. The mid-to-late stage trials were testing the oral combination treatment against Biktarvy, Gilead's once-a-day pill to treat HIV. "Today's update underscores the difficulties of improving upon the profile of Gilead's once-daily Biktarvy," said BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman. GS-4182 is an experimental pill version of the company's approved HIV drug lenacapavir, while GS-1720 is a once-weekly therapy in development for treatment of HIV. The company said the hold is not related to Gilead's application seeking FDA's approval for lenacapavir in preventing HIV. The agency is set to decide on the application by June 19. The FDA had approved lenacapavir for HIV treatment in 2022 and is sold under the brand Sunlenca. Gilead has multiple other long-acting oral and injectable HIV treatment combinations under development, and this clinical hold does not impact those combinations, the drugmaker said.
Medscape
09-06-2025
- Business
- Medscape
Merck's Potential Blockbuster Cholesterol Pill Succeeds in Late-stage Studies
(Reuters) -Merck's oral cholesterol pill succeeded in two late-stage studies, marking a win for the drugmaker as it focuses on the development of growth drivers beyond its cancer drugs and vaccines. The company is searching for its next blockbuster candidate as its major revenue driver, Keytruda, is expected to lose patent protection by the end of the decade. Merck's non-statin cholesterol drug, enlicitide decanoate, is being tested for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, a condition that causes elevated buildup of fat in the blood vessels and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Enlicitide works by blocking PCSK9, a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating cholesterol levels, while statins block an enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said Merck's drug could potentially provide a "multi-billion dollar opportunity" that expands the PCSK9 market beyond current injectable therapies. The drug showed meaningful reductions in LDL-C cholesterol, commonly referred to as "bad cholesterol", when compared to placebo and other oral non-statin therapies, Merck said. However, Leerink analysts have noted that Astrazeneca's AZD0780 is a "credible threat" as it has shown a 50.7% reduction in LDL-C levels during a trial. Merck has not given the details on LDL-C reduction for enlicitide. The drug was tested in patients who have a history of, or are at risk for a type of heart disease, and were treated with a statin. Shares of Merck were up 2% in premarket trading. Verve Therapeutics is also developing a gene therapy to reduce high cholesterol levels, which is expected to be used in combination with other drugs. (Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Merck's potential cholesterol pill succeeds in late-stage studies
Merck's oral cholesterol pill succeeded in two late-stage studies, marking a win for the drugmaker as it focuses on the development of growth drivers beyond its cancer drugs and vaccines. The company is searching for its next blockbuster candidate as its major revenue driver, Keytruda, is expected to lose patent protection by the end of the decade. Merck's non-statin cholesterol drug, enlicitide decanoate, is being tested for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, a condition that causes elevated buildup of fat in the blood vessels and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Enlicitide works by blocking PCSK9, a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating cholesterol levels, while statins block an enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said Merck's drug could potentially provide a "multi-billion dollar opportunity" that expands the PCSK9 market beyond current injectable therapies. The drug showed meaningful reductions in LDL-C cholesterol, commonly referred to as "bad cholesterol", when compared to placebo and other oral non-statin therapies, Merck said. However, Leerink analysts have noted that Astrazeneca's AZD0780 is a "credible threat" as it has shown a 50.7% reduction in LDL-C levels during a trial. Merck has not given the details on LDL-C reduction for enlicitide. The drug was tested in patients who have a history of, or are at risk for a type of heart disease, and were treated with a statin. Shares of Merck were up 2% in premarket trading.
