Eli Lilly Signs $1.3 Billion AI Drug Discovery Deal with Superluminal for Obesity Treatments
Eli Lilly has entered a $1.3 billion agreement with privately held Superluminal Medicines to use artificial intelligence in discovering and developing small-molecule drugs for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases.
Lilly currently leads the obesity drug market, which analysts estimate could be worth $150 billion by the next decade. The company is working to strengthen its dominance through next-generation drug development, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
Under the deal, Lilly will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialize drug candidates created with Superluminal’s proprietary AI-driven platform. The platform targets G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) — proteins that influence key physiological processes, including metabolism, cell growth, and immune responses.
Pharmaceutical rivals, including Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, are also exploring GPCR targets to develop oral small-molecule obesity drugs. In May, Novo signed a $2.2 billion deal with U.S. biotech Septerna to advance GPCR-based therapies.
GPCR Targets in Obesity Treatment
“GPCRs are well-established targets in the obesity and cardiometabolic space, but we are still in the early stages of exploring their full potential,” Superluminal CEO Cony D’Cruz told Reuters.
Lilly has leveraged the global demand for GLP-1 class obesity medicines, including its blockbuster Zepbound and Novo’s Wegovy. The company is also developing orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 drug that has underperformed investor expectations.
Last year, Lilly partnered with Hong Kong-listed Laekna to develop an experimental obesity therapy aimed at helping patients lose weight while preserving muscle mass.
Deal Terms and Superluminal’s Pipeline
As part of the agreement, Superluminal will receive upfront and milestone payments, an equity investment, and tiered royalties on future net sales.
Superluminal, based in Boston, is also advancing its own lead candidate targeting the melanocortin 4 receptor to treat rare genetic forms of obesity. Human trials are expected to begin by Q4 next year, though this candidate is not included in the Lilly deal.
The startup is backed by RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, and NVentures, the venture capital arm of NVIDIA.
