Eli Lilly Pays $1B Upfront to Acquire Verve Therapeutics, Expanding Cardiovascular Gene Editing Portfolio

Eli Lilly announced a definitive agreement to acquire Verve Therapeutics for $1.3 billion, paying about $1 billion upfront, with the deal expected to close in Q3 20251 4 5.

Verve shareholders will receive $10.50 per share, a significant premium over the prior share price, plus up to an additional $3 per share if the lead therapy (VERVE-102) advances to a phase 3 U.S. trial within 10 years4.

Verve develops gene editing medicines for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), aiming for one-time treatments targeting key genes such as PCSK9 and ANGPTL35.

VERVE-102, Verve's lead program, is an in vivo gene editing therapy targeting PCSK9, shown in early-stage trials to lower LDL cholesterol and PCSK9 levels without major liver toxicity; it is in Phase 1b trials and has received FDA Fast Track status4 5.

Lilly had already invested in Verve's gene editing pipeline and this acquisition brings those programs in-house for better control and integration2 4.

The deal is seen as a major validation of gene editing approaches for heart disease, though some analysts express skepticism about clinical and commercial success3.