Eli Lilly

Verzenios is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor developed by Lilly for the treatment of several forms of breast cancer.

The agreement brings together Lilly’s expertise in developing innovative medicines with Abu Dhabi’s advanced healthcare infrastructure, population-scale health data, and genomics capabilities.

The partnership grants Lilly global rights to AlzeCure’s preclinical small-molecule candidate, ACD680, which targets the biology of Alzheimer’s disease.

Under the agreement, Lilly will obtain exclusive worldwide rights, excluding South Korea, to develop, manufacture, and commercialise sonefpeglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analogue.

Ascidian will lead target discovery and selected preclinical activities, while Lilly will oversee additional preclinical development, clinical research, manufacturing, regulatory activities, and global commercialization.

The acquisitions of Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company mark the drugmaker’s eighth, ninth, and tenth deals of 2026 as it continues to diversify beyond its blockbuster obesity and diabetes franchises.

The additional funding will enhance two key facilities within the Lebanon complex, known collectively as the LEAP Research and Innovation District.

The collaboration focuses on multiple research programmes designed to develop and commercialise site-specific recombinases for diseases characterised by severe unmet medical needs.

The acquisition gives Lilly access to Ajax’s experimental therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a group of rare blood cancers in which the bone marrow produces excessive blood cells.