Eli Lilly Makes Three Strategic Acquisitions to Bolster Its Vaccine Portfolio

Eli Lilly, the American pharmaceutical giant with a Swiss presence through its branch in Vernier, in the canton of Geneva, has announced the simultaneous acquisition of three companies — Curevo (US), LimmaTech Biologics (Switzerland), and Vaccine Company (US) — in a bold move to strengthen its position in differentiated vaccine technologies and address major unmet medical needs.

Curevo (US) — Taking on shingles vaccination

Curevo’s lead candidate, amezosvateine, is an adjuvanted vaccine aimed at preventing shingles in adults. Designed to improve on the tolerability profile of the current standard of care, it showed promising Phase 2 results, meeting all primary immunogenicity endpoints while cutting by more than half side effects such as activity-limiting fatigue, chills, and injection site pain. Under the terms of the deal, Curevo shareholders could receive up to USD 1.5 billion, comprising an upfront payment and a milestone-based payment.

LimmaTech Biologics (Switzerland) — Tackling antimicrobial resistance

In an acquisition that also highlights the strength of Swiss biotech, Lilly is acquiring Zurich-based LimmaTech Biologics for up to USD 780 million. LimmaTech develops vaccines targeting bacterial pathogens increasingly resistant to antimicrobials, including Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Its lead program, LTB-SA7, is in Phase 1 development as a vaccine against S. aureus — a leading cause of surgical site infections — with a preclinical pipeline also targeting pathogens responsible for infertility.

Vaccine Company (US) — Harnessing nanoparticle technology

The third acquisition brings in Vaccine Company and its proprietary in vivo nanoparticle (IVN) technology, engineered to trigger durable immune responses typically associated with virus-like particle vaccines. The company’s lead program targets the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with a five-antigen candidate ready to enter Phase 1 trials. Shareholders could receive up to USD 1.55 billion, including upfront and milestone-contingent payments.

Taken together, these three deals signal Lilly’s commitment to building a robust, technology-diverse vaccine pipeline — from bacterial resistance to viral immunology — while reinforcing its global footprint, including its established operations in the Geneva region.

All three transactions remain subject to customary closing conditions, and Lilly has indicated it will determine the accounting treatment following closing, with any financial impact to be reflected in future results and guidance.

➡️Source: Eli Lilly