Lilly confirms bid to acquire Ventyx Biosciences

Following rumors over the last couple of days, US pharma major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has confirmed that it plans to acquire Ventyx Biosciences (Nasdaq: VTYX), a San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative oral therapies for patients with inflammatory-mediated diseases.

Ventyx is developing a pipeline of small molecule therapeutics, including NLRP3 inhibitors, designed to treat inflammation across a broad range of disease states with high unmet need. These include opportunities across cardiometabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory disorders. The company's clinical-stage programs target key immune pathways with the goal of offering improved efficacy and safety compared to existing treatments.

"There is increasing evidence that inflammation is a key driver of many chronic diseases," said Dr Daniel Skovronsky, chief scientific and product officer, and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. "Ventyx's clinical-stage pipeline addresses a critical need for better treatment options across diseases mediated by chronic inflammation and further strengthens our ability to deliver meaningful advances for patients living with challenging diseases across focus areas of cardiometabolic health, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity," he noted.