Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Eli Lilly and Company / Applied Molecular Evolution Inc.

2003 · Acquisition/Merger · $400M · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 13

A $0.4B bolt-on protein-engineering platform quietly became the R&D engine behind Taltz, a $3.2B/year blockbuster — one of Lilly's best-aged small deals.

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The coverage arc

Nov 21, 2003 SEC EDGAR (AME DEFA14A) Neutral

Lilly to acquire AME at $18/share in cash, stock, or combination; AMEsystem directed-evolution platform positioned as core to Lilly's biotechnology product…

Jan 01, 2015 PMC / NIH (therapeutic mAb market review) Bullish

Top 6 monoclonal antibodies grew at ~20% CAGR from 2004-2013, validating Lilly's 2003 strategic move to acquire antibody optimization capability via AME.

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Announced November 21, 2003. $18/share = ~$400M. Antibody optimization platform (AMEsystem). Closed February 2004. Sources: SEC 425, Lilly investor PR, Pharmaletter.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

A $0.4B bolt-on protein-engineering platform quietly became the R&D engine behind Taltz, a $3.2B/year blockbuster — one of Lilly's best-aged small deals.

Strategic verdict
Achieved Stated Rationale

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Eli Lilly and Company / Applied Molecular Evolution Inc. (this deal)2003$400M88
Eli Lilly and Company / Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH2011$444M89
Eli Lilly and Company / Loxo Oncology, Inc.2019$8.0B88
Eli Lilly and Company / ICOS Corporation2006$2.3B87
Eli Lilly and Company / Novartis Animal Health2014$5.4B70
Eli Lilly and Company / Incyte Corporation2009$755M69
Eli Lilly and Company / Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.2026$1.3B65

Compare all 7 side-by-side →

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