Eli Lilly Expands Reach in MASH and Cancer Therapies with Strategic Partnerships

Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical giant, has taken significant steps to bolster its presence in the metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and cancer treatment landscapes. The company recently announced two strategic collaborations, demonstrating its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in these critical areas.

OliX Partnership Targets MASH with Novel siRNA Therapy

Lilly has inked a deal with South Korea's OliX Pharmaceuticals, focusing on the development of OLX75016, an innovative small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy for MASH and related cardiometabolic diseases. This investigational gene silencer targets the MARC1 enzyme, which plays a role in lipid accumulation in fat cells.

OliX will receive an initial payment from Lilly to complete a Phase I trial of OLX75016 in Australia. The therapy aims to reduce fat content in the liver, obesity, and liver fibrosis—key hallmarks of MASH. This move aligns with Lilly's existing efforts in the MASH space, complementing its ongoing work with Zepbound, a weight-loss therapy showing promise in MASH treatment.

In a recent Phase II study, Zepbound demonstrated significant efficacy in MASH resolution without worsening fibrosis. At the highest dose of 15 mg, nearly 75% of patients achieved MASH resolution, positioning Lilly competitively against rival Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which showed a 32.8% MASH clearance rate in its own trials.

AdvanCell Collaboration Advances Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Therapies

In a parallel move, Lilly has partnered with Australian biotech AdvanCell to advance radiopharmaceutical therapies for various types of cancer. This collaboration will leverage AdvanCell's proprietary targeted alpha platform, which produces Pb-212-based therapies.

The partnership builds upon Lilly's existing presence in the radiopharmaceutical space, following its $1.4 billion acquisition of Point Biopharma in 2023. AdvanCell's expertise in radionuclide development will be combined with Lilly's drug candidate programs to accelerate the clinical advancement of an expanded portfolio of radiopharmaceuticals.

This strategic move comes on the heels of AdvanCell's recent $112 million Series C funding round, co-led by prominent investors including SV Health Investors, Sanofi Ventures, Abingworth, and SymBiosis. AdvanCell is currently developing a potential challenger to Novartis' prostate cancer drug Pluvicto, further highlighting the significance of this collaboration for Lilly's oncology pipeline.

Lilly's Expanding Footprint in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics

These partnerships underscore Lilly's growing interest in nucleic acid therapeutics. The company has been steadily increasing its investments in this area, as evidenced by the opening of a $700 million nucleic acid R&D center in the Boston Seaport last year. The collaboration with OliX, in particular, represents a deeper push into siRNA technology, complementing Lilly's existing early-phase pipeline, which includes siRNA inhibitors targeting SCAP and PNPLA3.

As Lilly continues to diversify its approach to treating complex diseases like MASH and cancer, these strategic partnerships position the company at the forefront of innovative therapeutic development. The combination of Lilly's extensive resources and the specialized expertise of its new partners promises to accelerate the advancement of novel treatments in areas of significant unmet medical need.