Sosei Heptares and Eli Lilly Enter Multi-target Collaboration

Sosei Heptares announced on Dec. 16, 2022 that it has entered a drug discovery collaboration with Eli Lilly with the goal to discover, develop, and commercialize small molecules that modulate novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets associated with diabetes and metabolic diseases.

The agreement will use Sosei Heptares’ StaR technology and structure-based drug design platform and Lilly’s extensive drug development and commercialization expertise as well as its therapeutic area expertise in diabetes and metabolic diseases. Sosei Heptares is eligible to receive $37 million upfront in cash and commercial milestone payments totaling up to $694 million, plus tiered royalties.

“This new agreement with Lilly further reinforces our position as a global partner of choice for GPCR-focused drug discovery targeting major diseases where patients remain in need of new and effective therapies,” said Matt Barnes, head of UK research & development, Sosei Heptares, in a company press release. “We provide a highly attractive approach that is recognized by many of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies and are delighted to add Lilly to that list. Lilly is a recognized world leader in diabetes and metabolic diseases, and we look forward to a collaboration that brings together our respective and complementary expertise with the goal of identifying and developing novel candidates to advance in these important areas of unmet need.”