Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Lilly bought early and cheap into a novel immunometabolism target for autoimmune disease at just $40M upfront, though the program's own status note flags it as a distinct, easily confused bet separate from ImmuNext's VISTA franchise.
Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.
Full analysis, sources & comparables →Lilly and ImmuNext announced an up-to-$605M autoimmune deal targeting a novel immunometabolism mechanism — distinct from ImmuNext's separately-partnered VISTA…
Lilly and ImmuNext announce licensing and research collaboration; ImmuNext to receive $40 million upfront and up to approximately $565 million in milestones…
C&EN coverage frames the Lilly-ImmuNext pact as a bet on immunometabolic reprogramming as an alternative to broad immunosuppression in autoimmune disease.
Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.
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Lilly licensed exclusive worldwide rights to a preclinical, first-in-pathway antibody targeting a novel immunometabolism pathway (lymphocyte metabolism reprogramming) from ImmuNext for autoimmune diseases. Upfront $40M; up to ~$565M in development and commercialization milestones; mid-single to low-double digit tiered royalties. Distinct from ImmuNext's VISTA checkpoint regulator program (partnered separately with Janssen for cancer and Roche for autoimmune).
Autoimmune diseases — including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, lupus and IBD — affect roughly 1 in 10 Americans collectively and result from immune cells attacking the body's own tissue. Most current therapies broadly suppress immunity (TNF, IL-17, IL-23, JAK inhibitors), creating infection risk; immunometabolism aims to reprogram lymphocyte function instead of suppressing it.
DB metadata describes this as an anti-VISTA antibody (LY3361237) deal, but Tier 1-5 sourcing (Lilly investor release, BioSpace, GEN, Pharmaphorum, C&EN) shows the actual March 2019 ImmuNext-Lilly deal targets a preclinical first-in-pathway antibody against an immunometabolic checkpoint regulating lymphocyte metabolism — distinct from ImmuNext's separately-partnered VISTA programs with Janssen (cancer) and Roche (autoimmune). Lilly's broader immunology stack includes Taltz (IL-17A) in psoriasis/PsA, mirikizumab (IL-23p19) in UC, and lebrikizumab (IL-13) in atopic dermatitis. Adjacent immunometabolism players include Sitryx (Lilly-partnered, separate deal), Pandion (acquired by Merck 2021), and Rheos Medicines. Competing autoimmune mechanisms span AbbVie's Rinvoq, BMS's Sotyktu (TYK2), Amgen/UCB Otezla, and broad TNF franchises. The ImmuNext target's appeal is that it sits 'upstream' of conventional checkpoints — if validated, it could reprogram pathogenic T cells without broad immunosuppression. As of available reporting, the asset remained preclinical with no public IND or trial readout disclosed (LY3361237 designation is unverified against this immunometabolism deal).
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company / ImmuNext Inc. (anti-VISTA license) (this deal) | 2019 | $350M | — |
| Eli Lilly and Company / Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH | 2011 | $444M | 89 |
| Eli Lilly and Company / Loxo Oncology, Inc. | 2019 | $8.0B | 88 |
| Eli Lilly and Company / Applied Molecular Evolution Inc. | 2003 | $400M | 88 |
| Eli Lilly and Company / ICOS Corporation | 2006 | $2.3B | 87 |
| Eli Lilly and Company / Novartis Animal Health | 2014 | $5.4B | 70 |
| Eli Lilly and Company / Incyte Corporation | 2009 | $755M | 69 |
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More: 2019 deals · Eli Lilly and Company deals · Immunology deals