Global Finance News
20 Apr 2026, 19:26
Eli Lilly and Company announced it will acquire Kelonia Therapeutics in a deal valued at up to $7 billion, strengthening its position in genetic medicine and next-generation cancer therapies.
Kelonia’s proprietary iGPS® platform enables in vivo CAR-T therapy, allowing the patient’s body to generate CAR-T cells directly, eliminating the need for complex external cell manufacturing. Its lead candidate, KLN-1010, is currently in Phase 1 trials for multiple myeloma and has shown encouraging early clinical results.
Lilly expects the acquisition to simplify CAR-T treatment, improving accessibility, reducing costs, and enabling faster, more scalable “off-the-shelf” therapies. The technology also has potential applications across a wider range of cancers and serious diseases.
Under the terms, Kelonia shareholders will receive $3.25 billion upfront, with additional milestone payments bringing the total value to up to $7 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
PRNewswire
Kelonia’s proprietary iGPS® platform enables in vivo CAR-T therapy, allowing the patient’s body to generate CAR-T cells directly, eliminating the need for complex external cell manufacturing. Its lead candidate, KLN-1010, is currently in Phase 1 trials for multiple myeloma and has shown encouraging early clinical results.
Lilly expects the acquisition to simplify CAR-T treatment, improving accessibility, reducing costs, and enabling faster, more scalable “off-the-shelf” therapies. The technology also has potential applications across a wider range of cancers and serious diseases.
Under the terms, Kelonia shareholders will receive $3.25 billion upfront, with additional milestone payments bringing the total value to up to $7 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
PRNewswire