Story perspectives

Lilly Secures Exclusive Kidney Platform in $1.9 B Deal

6/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

June 3, 2026, Eli Lilly and Ascidian Therapeutics announced a licensing deal that gives Lilly exclusive rights to the kidney platform and up to $1.9 billion in upfront payments, milestones and royalties.
Ascidian will conduct discovery and preclinical work while Lilly will handle later development, trials, manufacturing and commercialization.
Ascidian retains rights to pursue other kidney programs and licensed the technology to Roche in 2024 for $42 million upfront and $1.8 billion in milestones.

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Story summary

June 3, 2026, Eli Lilly and Ascidian Therapeutics announced a licensing deal that gives Lilly exclusive rights to the kidney platform and up to $1.9 billion in upfront payments, milestones and royalties.
Ascidian will conduct discovery and preclinical work while Lilly will handle later development, trials, manufacturing and commercialization.
Ascidian retains rights to pursue other kidney programs and licensed the technology to Roche in 2024 for $42 million upfront and $1.8 billion in milestones.