Eli Lilly licenses early-stage ALS drug program from Alchemab in $415M pact

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Eli Lilly Secures Rights to Alchemab’s AI-Discovered ALS Antibody in $415M Licensing Deal

Eli Lilly has entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Alchemab Therapeutics, valued at up to $415 million, for ATLX-1282, a first-in-class antibody program targeting ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases1 2 3 4.
The deal includes an undisclosed upfront payment, milestone payments for discovery, development, and commercialization, plus potential royalties on future sales1 2 4.
Alchemab will lead early Phase I trials of ATLX-1282, while Eli Lilly will manage later-stage development and global commercialization1 4.
ATLX-1282 was discovered using Alchemab’s proprietary platform that integrates AI and machine learning to identify protective antibodies in resilient individuals, such as people predisposed to frontotemporal dementia who remain healthy1 3 4.
The antibody targets UNC5C, a gene linked to neuroprotection and abnormal expression in several neurodegenerative conditions, including ALS and frontotemporal dementia3.
This partnership builds on a broader research collaboration announced in January 2025 to co-develop up to five novel ALS therapies4.
Alchemab’s approach leverages immune profiling from resilient individuals and patients with unusually slow ALS progression to identify therapeutic candidates3 4.