Eli Lilly Makes $1.3 Billion Bet on “One-and-Done” Heart Disease Treatment
BOSTON, USA – June 17, 2025 – Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Verve Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering gene-editing medicines for cardiovascular disease, in a deal valued at up to $1.3 billion. The acquisition signals a massive endorsement for Verve’s lead program, VERVE-102, a “potential first-in-class” gene-editing medicine aiming to revolutionize heart disease treatment from chronic management to a single-dose solution.
The agreement, which could reach $1.3 billion including contingent value rights, sees Lilly paying $10.50 per share in cash upfront, with an additional $3.00 per share contingent upon the first patient being dosed in a late-stage Phase 3 trial for VERVE-102. This premium offer, more than double Verve’s closing price on Monday, sent Verve’s stock soaring by over 74% on Tuesday.
VERVE-102 is currently in early-stage Phase 1 trials and targets PCSK9, a gene intricately linked to cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health. The innovative treatment seeks to permanently “turn off” the PCSK9 gene in the liver, durably reducing disease-driving LDL-C (bad cholesterol). This approach holds immense promise for patients with conditions like heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 250 people, and certain patients with premature coronary artery disease.
“Verve was founded with one mission in mind: transform the treatment of cardiovascular disease from chronic care to a one-dose future,” stated Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, co-founder and chief executive officer of Verve Therapeutics. “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.”
Ruth Gimeno, Lilly group vice president of diabetes and metabolic research and development, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the potential paradigm shift. “VERVE-102… could shift the treatment paradigm for cardiovascular disease from chronic care to one-and-done treatment,” she said in a statement.
The acquisition underscores Lilly’s strategic move to expand its cardiometabolic portfolio and venture deeper into the rapidly evolving field of genetic medicines. Analysts believe this deal could provide a much-needed boost to the gene-editing space, which has faced pressures from alternative approaches in recent years. Other gene-editing companies, such as Editas Medicine Inc., Intellia Therapeutics Inc., and Crispr Therapeutics AG, saw their shares rise following the news.
While pivotal trials for VERVE-102 are not anticipated to begin until late 2027, with a potential launch after 2030, the significant investment from Eli Lilly signals strong confidence in the long-term potential of this groundbreaking approach to heart disease. The hope is that a single treatment could lead to a lifelong reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, fundamentally changing how millions of patients manage their heart health.
