Eli Lilly to Acquire Verve Therapeutics to Advance One-Time Cardiovascular Treatments

Eli Lilly and Verve Therapeutics announced today that Lilly will acquire Verve for up to $1.3 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Verve for a purchase price of $10.50 per share in cash payable at closing, plus one non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) per share that entitles the holder to receive up to an additional $3.00 per share, for a total potential consideration of up to $13.50 per share in cash without interest (an aggregate of up to approximately $1.3 billion). CVR holders would become entitled to receive the contingent payment upon the first patient being dosed with VERVE-102 for ASCVD in a U.S. Phase 3 clinical trial on or prior to the tenth anniversary of closing or termination of the CVR.

Since its inception in 2018, Verve Therapeutics has sought to develop one-time base-editing treatments for cardiovascular disease, with the goal of shifting from chronic care to single-dose therapies. The company three lead programmes target the main lipoprotein drivers of atherosclerosis, with two currently in clinical trials.

Verve's lead programme VERVE-102 is designed to permanently disrupt the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce LDL-C or so-called ‘bad cholesterol’. VERVE-102, which was granted FDA Fast Track designation in April 2025, is being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial, initially for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and certain patients with premature coronary artery disease. Its second clinical-stage programme, VERVE-201 is also being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial. It is designed to target the ANGPTL3 gene and is being developed for the treatment of refractory hypercholesterolemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. VERVE-301 is a pre-clinical stage programme designed to target the LPA gene, using an undisclosed novel editor, to reduce lipoprotein(a) levels.

Speaking about the acquisition, Sekar Kathiresan, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Verve Therapeutics said: »In just seven years, our team has progressed three in vivo gene editing products, with two currently in the clinic. Now, we will take the next steps in the drug development journey together with an ideal strategic partner in Lilly. Lilly shares our vision, and we believe their global research, clinical, regulatory and commercial capabilities will help to accelerate the development of our medicines.«

»VERVE-102 has the potential to be the first in vivo gene editing therapy for broad patient populations and could shift the treatment paradigm for cardiovascular disease from chronic care to one-and-done treatment. Lilly is eager to welcome our Verve colleagues to Lilly and continue the development of these promising potential new medicines aimed at improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and addressing the significant unmet medical need in this space,« said Ruth Gimeno, Lilly group vice president, Diabetes and Metabolic Research and Development.

The transaction is expected to close in Q3 of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. See the official press release for further details.