Merida's antibody-engineering platform is designed to enable precise, durable removal of disease-causing antibodies, while preserving normal immune function

Initial Phase 1 data show MER511 achieved robust reductions in pathogenic thyroid-stimulating antibodies with a favorable initial safety profile

Acquisition strengthens Lilly's immunology capabilities and its opportunity to elevate the standard of care for immune-mediated conditions with high unmet need 

INDIANAPOLIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) and Merida Biosciences, Inc. (Merida), a biotechnology company advancing a new class of precision therapeutics for serious autoimmune and allergic diseases, today announced a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Merida.

Merida is developing biologics engineered to selectively degrade pathogenic autoantibodies, the disease-causing agents behind a range of immune-mediated conditions. The precision degradation approach is intended to address the biological cause of these diseases, rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, as many current therapies do.

Merida's lead program, MER511, is in Phase 1 development for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease (TED), conditions driven by thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins, which are autoantibodies that activate the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. Graves' disease affects approximately 3 million people in the U.S., and patients face elevated cardiovascular risk and mortality. Roughly 25 to 40 percent of people with Graves' disease go on to develop TED, which can cause pain, disfigurement, and in severe cases, vision loss. While there are approved treatments for both conditions, none directly target the autoantibodies that cause them. Because pathogenic autoantibodies drive a wide range of serious diseases, Merida's platform has potential application well beyond its lead program. The company's pipeline also includes MER769, a preclinical program focused on food allergy, asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria and other diseases driven by the antibody responsible for triggering allergic reactions, along with earlier-stage programs in kidney diseases such as membranous nephropathy and other immune-mediated conditions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire Merida and pay up to $2.875 billion in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment, and contingent milestone payments.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Lilly will determine the accounting treatment of this transaction in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) upon closing. This transaction will thereafter be reflected in Lilly's financial results and financial guidance.