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Gate Bioscience expands Lilly drug discovery deal worth more than $870 million

By Thomson Reuters Oct 5, 2026 | 7:35 AM

Oct 5 (Reuters) – Gate Bioscience said on Monday it expanded a research and licensing agreement with ​Eli Lilly to develop ‌treatments targeting disease-causing proteins, in a deal potentially worth more than $870 million.

The companies’ original agreement, announced in July 2025, was ‌worth ​up to $856 million.

Here are ⁠key details:

• The ⁠expanded collaboration adds one drug target, with an option to add a second

• Gate will receive an ​upfront payment and research funding, as well as an additional ⁠payment if the ⁠second target is selected

• The ​companies did not disclose the upfront ​payment

• Privately held Gate Bioscience will ‌use its platform to discover oral small-molecule drugs designed to eliminate proteins that have been difficult to ⁠target with existing medicines

• Gate will lead the discovery work, while Lilly will ⁠handle late-stage ‌preclinical and clinical development, ⁠manufacturing and commercialization

• Lilly ​will ‌have exclusive worldwide rights to ​products developed ⁠for the selected targets

• Gate is also eligible for milestone payments and royalties on global sales

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Tasim Zahid)