Lilly acts on ‘expansion plans’ in neuroscience, immunology via $1.2B Ventyx takeout

Lilly made the first 10-figure splash of biotech’s January deal-making season by clinching an agreement to acquire Ventyx for $1.2 billion, adding potential growth drivers to its neuroscience and immunology franchises days before the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is set to begin in San Francisco.

Although Ventyx Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:VTYX) lists four clinical products in its pipeline, language in the announcement from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) suggests the biotech’s pair of NLRP3 inhibitors drove the deal. The molecules have reached Phase II testing for pericarditis, Parkinson’s disease and obesity-associated cardiometabolic disorders...