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Lilly Pays Up To $2.5bn For Scorpion, Will Put Big Pharma Muscle Behind PI3Kα Inhibitor

Deal Further Builds Out Breast Cancer Portfolio

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Scrip spoke with Lilly chief medical officer David Hyman at J.P. Morgan about the company’s oncology dealmaking strategy and plans for Scorpion’s selective PI3Kα-targeting asset.

Lilly will add STX-478 to a breast cancer portfolio that includes Verzenio and imlunestrant (Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • Lilly will pay up to $2.5bn to acquire Scorpion, keeping its PI3Kα inhibitor STX-478, while the start-up’s employees and assets will spin out into a new company.
  • The drug may be selective enough to improve both efficacy and safety relative to prior PI3Kα inhibitors.
  • Lilly will undertake a broad development program for STX-478 and build on its Verzenio franchise and future imlunestrant launch in breast cancer.

Eli Lilly joined the dealmaking fray at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, announcing on 13 January that it will pay up to $2.5bn for Scorpion Therapeutics to...

The $2.5bn deal – included in potential pre-J.P. Morgan deal speculation in the days leading up to the meeting – is comprised of an upfront cash payout to Scorpion...

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