FDA Says No Black Box Warning Planned for COVID-19 Vaccines Despite Safety Debate 
Oracle Stock Slides After Blue Owl Exit Report, Company Says Michigan Data Center Talks Remain on Track 
Sanofi’s Efdoralprin Alfa Gains EMA Orphan Status for Rare Lung Disease 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
FAA Unveils Flight Plan 2026 to Strengthen Aviation Safety and Workforce Development 
noyb Files GDPR Complaints Against TikTok, Grindr, and AppsFlyer Over Alleged Illegal Data Tracking. 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Apple Explores India for iPhone Chip Assembly as Manufacturing Push Accelerates 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Instacart Stock Drops After FTC Probes AI-Based Price Discrimination Claims 
Apple Opens iPhone to Alternative App Stores in Japan Under New Competition Law 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Robinhood Expands Sports Event Contracts With Player Performance Wagers 
Shell M&A Chief Exits After BP Takeover Proposal Rejected 
Eli Lilly and Company revealed it will acquire Sigilon Therapeutics by buying all the remaining shares that it did not own. The goal for the move is to develop and provide long-term solutions for diabetes patients by gaining access to the Massachusetts-based biotech firm’s experimental cell therapies that can provide longer-term solutions for diabetes patients.
According to Reuters, as of March 27, Eli Lilly owns almost 8.44% stake in Sigilon Therapeutics. It will now purchase the rest of the shares to own 100% of the company. The pharmaceutical firm headquartered in Indianapolis will pay a total of $34.6 million in cash which is equivalent to $14.92 per share for the acquisition deal.
Moreover, Lilly said that under the agreement, the shareholders of Sigilon Therapeutics will also get an additional $111.64 per share once Eli Lilly achieved some developmental and regulatory milestones. The deal is expected to close by the third quarter of this year, and once completed, the pharma company will be able to freely access all of the latter’s proprietary cell therapy candidates that are under development for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Prior to the acquisition, Eli Lilly and Sigilon Therapeutics have been working together for years already. Their cooperation started in 2018 when the former invested $63 million in a licensing deal with Sigilon. The investment was for the development of cell therapies for type 1 diabetes.
"Despite significant advancement in treatment for people living with type 1 diabetes, many continue to live with a high disease burden every day," Eli Lilly’s group vice president, diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic research, Ruth Gimeno, Ph.D., said in a press release. "By combining Sigilon's talent and expertise in cell therapy with the knowledge and skills of Lilly's research and development teams, we will enhance opportunities to create innovative islet cell therapy solutions to improve the care of people living with diabetes."
Sigilon Therapeutic’s chief executive officer, Dr. Rogerio Vivaldi, M.D., also commented regarding the acquisition deal, "This agreement represents the culmination of the important work led by our research and development team to continue advancing SIG-002 at Lilly – the preeminent leader in the treatment of diabetes."
Finally, the Sigilon chief further said, “With deep industry expertise, Lilly is well-positioned to apply its industry-leading clinical and technical capabilities to harness the full potential of SIG-002 for the benefit of patients and their caregivers."
Photo by: Eli Lilly Press Release
