Latest news with #SuperluminalMedicines
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Superluminal Medicines Announces Collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to Advance Small Molecule Therapeutics for Cardiometabolic Diseases and Obesity
Collaboration focused on undisclosed GPCR targets Company to receive an upfront and near-term payments, including an equity investment, as well as additional development and commercial milestones, and tiered royalties BOSTON, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Superluminal Medicines, a drug discovery company integrating AI/ML, protein dynamics, and structural biology to rapidly unlock the most challenging G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), today announced a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") to advance small molecule therapeutics targeting undisclosed GPCR targets relevant to cardiometabolic diseases and obesity. The collaboration will leverage Superluminal's cutting-edge, structure-based drug discovery platform, combined with Lilly's small molecule development and commercialization expertise, to rapidly advance potentially life-changing therapeutics. "Our collaboration with Lilly is a defining moment for Superluminal, and a testament to the power of our platform to deliver high-quality development candidates against historically intractable GPCR targets," said Cony D'Cruz, CEO of Superluminal. "Together, we aim to develop next-generation medicines that address the urgent and growing global burden of cardiometabolic disease. We are very excited to be embarking on this collaboration just as we begin to advance our internal drug candidate targeting rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity, and we are committed to bringing safe, efficacious, novel treatments to patients affected by these challenging conditions." Under the terms of the agreement with Lilly, Superluminal will apply its proprietary platform to discover and optimize small-molecule therapeutics for undisclosed GPCR targets relevant to cardiometabolic diseases and obesity. Lilly will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize compounds arising from the collaboration after Superluminal delivers development candidates that meet predefined criteria. Superluminal is eligible to receive up to $1.3 billion, which includes upfront and near-term payments, an equity investment, development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales. Superluminal's platform integrates deep structural biology, machine learning, and proprietary pharmacokinetic and toxicology prediction tools to accelerate the discovery of candidate-ready small molecules. Initial efforts have focused on GPCRs, a historically challenging target class, where functional selectivity and structural complexity demand next-generation computational solutions. Superluminal is headquartered in Lilly Gateway Labs, Boston, and is backed by a strong network of investors, including RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, NVentures (NVIDIA's venture capital arm), Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company, Gaingels, and Cooley. About Superluminal MedicinesSuperluminal's platform has achieved a deep integration of AI/ML with biology, structural biology, and chemistry expertise to build the foundation for next-gen R&D and accelerate the discovery of candidate-ready compounds. The predict-design-test architecture accurately models protein shapes and designs highly selective compounds to target the precise structural change for therapeutic effect. Its discovery engine is powered by an industry-leading, pharmacokinetic and toxicology in silico prediction capability. The company's proprietary pipeline validates its platform with initial programs focused on high-value GPCR targets, including its wholly owned lead program, a best-in-class, selective, and biased MC4R agonist for the treatment of obesity, which is expected to enter the clinic in 2026. For more, visit Superluminal Media ContactSarah SuttonEndurance PRsarah@ 932-3680 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Superluminal Medicines
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Eli Lilly seeks more GPCR weight loss drugs in $1.3bn research deal
Eli Lilly will pay up to $1.3bn for Superluminal Medicines to discover and progress small-molecule therapeutics for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) targets within the cardiometabolic and obesity space. The collaboration between the two companies will allow Eli Lilly the exclusive rights to develop and commercialise compounds discovered on Superluminal's AI and machine learning (ML)-powered platform. In return, Superluminal is eligible to receive up to $1.3bn, which includes upfront and near-term payments, an equity investment, development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales. Lilly has been a long-time backer of Superluminal, with the US big pharma company taking part in a $120m Series A round in September 2024. The $1.3bn partnership with Eli Lilly marks a steep growth trajectory for the company that launched in 2023 with $33m in seed funding. For Eli Lilly, the research pact marks a bolstering of its already successful cardiometabolic and obesity portfolio. Known under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, tirzepatide activates two proteins in the GPCR family – glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R). Eli Lilly's two drugs earned a combined $8.57bn in Q2 2025 alone. Neither Lilly nor Superluminal confirmed whether more GIP or GLP-1 goalposts will be included in their collaboration, stating the platform will be only used to find 'undisclosed GPCR targets'. Superluminal states on their website that: 'Despite their importance, many GPCRs remain unexplored as drug targets, and we often lack detailed structural information.' Eli Lilly's main rival in the GLP-1RA space, Novo Nordisk, signed a GPCR deal of its own earlier this year. The Danish drugmaker outlaid $2.2bn in a deal with US biotech Septerna in May with the aim of finding and developing small-molecule drugs in obesity and diabetes. This is not the first time Lilly has put money behind GPCR projects. In December 2022, the company signed a partnership worth up to $694m with Tokyo-based Sosei for GPCR drug development, also in the diabetes and metabolic disease space. Superluminal CEO Cony D'Cruz said: '[With Eli Lilly], we aim to develop next-generation medicines that address the urgent and growing global burden of cardiometabolic disease. "We are very excited to be embarking on this collaboration just as we begin to advance our internal drug candidate targeting rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity, and we are committed to bringing safe, efficacious, novel treatments to patients affected by these challenging conditions.' Superliminal's pipeline comprises entirely of pre-clinical candidates. The most advanced is an asset that targets the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), a protein that plays a role in regulating appetite and body weight. "Eli Lilly seeks more GPCR weight loss drugs in $1.3bn research deal" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fast Company
5 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Eli Lilly signs $1.3 billion deal with Superluminal to use AI to make obesity medicines
Eli Lilly has signed a deal worth $1.3 billion with privately held Superluminal Medicines to discover and develop small-molecule drugs through AI to treat obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. Lilly currently dominates the obesity treatment market, which is estimated to be worth $150 billion by the next decade, and is trying to strengthen its foothold in the space through the development of next-generation drugs, acquisitions and partnerships. The deal gives Lilly access to Superluminal's proprietary artificial-intelligence-driven platform to rapidly discover potential drug candidates targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR)—a class of proteins that can influence a range of physiological processes including metabolism, cell growth and immune responses—the drug developer said on Thursday. In a similar move, Danish rival Novo Nordisk struck a $2.2 billion deal with U.S. biotech Septerna in May to develop oral small-molecule medicines targeting GPCRs for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. Lilly has been capitalizing on the overwhelming popularity of the GLP-1 class of medicines, which includes its blockbuster drug Zepbound as well as Novo's Wegovy. It is also developing a keenly watched oral GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, which has failed to meet investors' lofty expectations. The drugmaker teamed up with Hong Kong-listed biotech Laekna last year to develop an experimental obesity drug that aims to help patients lose weight while preserving muscle. Lilly will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize drug candidates discovered using Superluminal's platform, the drug developer said. As part of the deal, Superluminal is eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments, an equity investment as well as tiered royalties on net sales, the company said. Boston-based startup Superluminal is developing a wholly owned lead candidate targeting a protein called melanocortin 4 receptor to treat certain rare, genetic forms of obesity and is expected to begin human trials next year. The lead candidate is not part of the deal with Lilly. Superluminal is backed by investors including RA Capital Management, Insight Partners and NVentures, NVIDIA's venture capital arm.
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Lilly signs $1.3 billion deal with Superluminal to discover obesity medicines using AI
Aug 14 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab has signed a deal worth $1.3 billion with privately held Superluminal Medicines to discover and develop small-molecule drugs through AI to treat obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. Lilly currently dominates the obesity treatment market, which is estimated to be worth $150 billion by the next decade, and is trying to strengthen its foothold in the space through the development of next-generation drugs, acquisitions and partnerships. The deal gives Lilly access to Superluminal's proprietary artificial-intelligence-driven platform to rapidly discover potential drug candidates targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) - a class of proteins that can influence a range of physiological processes including metabolism, cell growth and immune responses - the drug developer said on Thursday. In a similar move, Danish rival Novo Nordisk ( opens new tab struck a $2.2 billion deal with U.S. biotech Septerna in May to develop oral small-molecule medicines targeting GPCRs for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. Lilly has been capitalizing on the overwhelming popularity of the GLP-1 class of medicines, which includes its blockbuster drug Zepbound as well as Novo's Wegovy. It is also developing a keenly watched oral GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, which has failed to meet investors' lofty expectations. The drugmaker teamed up with Hong Kong-listed biotech Laekna ( opens new tab last year to develop an experimental obesity drug that aims to help patients lose weight while preserving muscle. Lilly will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize drug candidates discovered using Superluminal's platform, the drug developer said. As part of the deal, Superluminal is eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments, an equity investment as well as tiered royalties on net sales, the company said. Boston-based startup Superluminal is developing a wholly owned lead candidate targeting a protein called melanocortin 4 receptor to treat certain rare, genetic forms of obesity and is expected to begin human trials next year. The lead candidate is not part of the deal with Lilly. Superluminal is backed by investors including RA Capital Management, Insight Partners and NVentures, NVIDIA's venture capital arm.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lilly signs up to $1.3 billion deal with Superluminal to develop obesity medicines
(Reuters) -Superluminal Medicines said on Thursday it had signed a deal with U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly worth up to $1.3 billion to discover and develop obesity drugs. The deal will give Lilly access to Superluminal's proprietary platform to discover drug targets related to cardiometabolic diseases and obesity. Superluminal's lead oral obesity drug candidate is expected to begin human trials next year. As part of the deal, Superluminal is eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments, an equity investment as well as tiered royalties on net sales, the company said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
