Pharmaceutical Market Europe • July/August 2026 • 6
NEWS
Lilly to acquire AtaiBeckley in $2.8bn deal
Eli Lilly has agreed to aquire AtaiBeckley, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for mental health conditions, in a deal worth $2.8bn
AtaiBeckley is advancing a pipeline of rapid-acting neuroplastogens, including multiple clinical-stage programmes and a discovery pipeline of next-generation compounds. The lead asset, BPL-003 (mebufotenin benzoate), is a synthetic form of 5-MeO-DMT administered intranasally for treatment-resistant depression, which affects millions of people in the US.
Emerging research indicates that treatment-resistant depression and other serious mental health conditions may involve a loss of synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to form and strengthen connections in regions critical to mood regulation.
AtaiBeckley’s therapies are designed to restore synaptic connectivity and aim to promote the growth of new neural connections, offering a distinct mechanism from conventional antidepressants that primarily target neurotransmitter levels.
In a phase 2b study, BPL-003 demonstrated rapid and durable reductions in depressive symptoms following an in-clinic visit lasting approximately two hours on average, with beneficial effects persisting for months. BPL-003 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the US FDA and has initiated phase 3 activities.
AbbVie to acquire Apogee in $10.9bn deal
AbbVie has announced it will acquire Apogee Therapeutics and its diverse pipeline of multiple clinical-stage candidates in development across inflammatory and immunological diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma.
The acquisition complements AbbVie’s existing immunology portfolio and accelerates AbbVie’s clinical presence in the respiratory space.
Apogee’s lead asset, zumilokibart (APG777), is a late-stage, half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13, in development for patients with AD.
Zumilokibart targets IL-13, a critical cytokine in type 2 inflammation and a central driver of inflammatory diseases like AD and asthma. Specifically in AD, a large majority of patients do not achieve simultaneous itch and skin improvement, which represents an opportunity for the development of novel treatments that not only provide better skin clearance and itch resolution but also improve convenience with less frequent dosing.
Apogee’s pipeline also includes combinations of its novel antibodies: APG273, a potential best-in-category long-acting combination targeting IL-13 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is being developed in asthma.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Vertex to acquire Crinetics in $10bn deal
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth around $10bn. Crinetics is a global pharma company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases.
Atumelnant, Crinetics’ most advanced pipeline candidate, is a once-daily oral adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor antagonist currently in phase 3 development for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
Classic CAH – the most severe form of the disease, with 17,000 addressable patients in the US – is a rare, chronic genetic condition affecting the adrenal glands that has significant unmet medical need. Among other features, CAH is characterised by impaired cortisol synthesis and, in most cases, excess androgen production, both of which contribute to a range of serious health consequences.
Crinetics’ Palsonify (paltusotine) was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), after being approved by the US FDA in September 2025. It is the first and only once-daily oral therapy for adults with acromegaly, a rare and debilitating condition caused by a pituitary tumour that secretes excess growth hormone, which affects an estimated 20,000 diagnosed people in the US.