Eli Lilly is expanding its efforts to develop next-generation pain medications by acquiring SiteOne Therapeutics, a biotech company that specializes in non-opioid pain treatments. The deal, worth up to $1 billion, includes an upfront payment and additional funding tied to milestones.
SiteOne’s lead candidate, STC-004, is a sodium channel inhibitor designed to block NaV1.8, an ion channel involved in pain sensation. Lilly is eager to continue developing STC-004, which has shown promise in a phase 1 trial, demonstrating improved pain tolerance with a once-daily dose.
Lilly’s efforts aim to address the growing global burden of chronic pain, which remains untreatable for many patients. The acquisition marks Eli Lilly’s second major move into non-opioid pain treatments, following a partnership with Pfizer on nerve growth factor inhibitor tanezumab, which was ultimately rejected by regulators due to concerns over joint damage.
The deal highlights the increasing focus on developing alternative pain treatments that avoid opioids, which have struggled to address chronic pain effectively. Eli Lilly’s acquisition of SiteOne Therapeutics brings the company closer to its goal of advancing novel, addiction-free pain therapies.
Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/eli-lilly-lands-next-gen-pain-asset-siteone-therapeutics-acquisition-worth-1b