Overview
- Ascidian Therapeutics signed a licensing deal with Eli Lilly that grants Lilly exclusive rights to use Ascidian’s RNA exon-editing technology for certain undisclosed rare inherited kidney-disease targets and is in effect as of June 3, 2026.
- The deal is worth up to $1.9 billion to Ascidian and includes an undisclosed upfront payment plus development, regulatory and sales milestone payments and tiered royalties on future product sales.
- Under the agreement Ascidian will lead discovery work and some preclinical studies while Lilly will take responsibility for later preclinical work, clinical development, manufacturing and global commercialization.
- Ascidian’s RNA exon-editing platform is designed to alter RNA transcripts to correct gene expression without permanently changing a patient’s DNA, an approach the company says may avoid risks tied to permanent DNA edits.
- The transaction follows Ascidian’s 2024 license to Roche for neurological targets and fits Lilly’s recent string of moves to build a genetic-medicine business, a shift that could speed development of new therapies for people with rare inherited kidney disorders and reshape specialty drug portfolios.