Eli Lilly Acquires SiteOne for Up to $1B to Expand Non-Opioid Pain Pipeline
Eli Lilly has announced the acquisition of SiteOne Therapeutics, a private biotech company, in a deal valued at up to $1 billion125.
This acquisition is designed to enhance Lilly's neuroscience pipeline with a focus on non-opioid pain management, directly challenging other industry moves such as Vertex's34.
SiteOne's lead asset, STC-004, is a Phase 2-ready inhibitor of the Nav1.8 sodium channel, which targets chronic pain without the risk of opioid addiction125.
The deal comprises an upfront cash payment and additional milestone payments for SiteOne shareholders based on regulatory and commercial achievements125.
The acquisition will also give Lilly access to SiteOne's broader platform of drug candidates focused on other sensory hyperexcitability disorders, such as chronic cough and ocular surface pain2.
Lilly executives emphasize the urgency and importance of developing effective, addiction-free pain therapies as the global burden of chronic pain increases5.
Sources:
1. https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/05/28/eli-lilly-to-buy-siteone-for-1-billion-463124/
2. https://pharmatimes.com/news/eli-lilly-acquires-siteone-therapeutics-to-advance-treatment-for-chronic-pain/
3. https://www.biospace.com/deals/lilly-follows-vertex-into-non-opioid-pain-with-up-to-1b-siteone-buy
4. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/lilly-siteone-acquisition-pain-drug-non-opioid-deal/749012/
5. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-to-expand-its-pain-pipeline-with-acquisition-of-siteone-therapeutics-302465735.html