Eli Lilly Acquires Orna Therapeutics to Expand Drug Pipeline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 13 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Market Leadership: Eli Lilly's tirzepatide became the best-selling drug globally last year, driving a 400% increase in stock price over the past five years, although a 4% decline in 2026 indicates market caution regarding future growth.
- Strategic Acquisition: Lilly's $2.4 billion cash acquisition of Boston-based Orna Therapeutics aims to enhance its drug pipeline, with Orna developing innovative medicines targeting autoimmune diseases, potentially leading to the next blockbuster drug.
- Technological Innovation: Orna's ORN-252 therapy utilizes in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T-cell technology, allowing the patient's body to generate necessary changes to combat diseases, showing promising potential despite being in early-stage development, which could revolutionize treatment approaches.
- Pipeline Expansion: Prior to the Orna acquisition, Lilly announced a $350 million collaboration with a Chinese biotech firm to develop treatments for immune disorders and cancer, reflecting its proactive strategy in drug development, although new drug marketing may take several years.
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Analyst Views on LLY
Wall Street analysts forecast LLY stock price to rise
20 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 954.520
Low
950.00
Averages
1192
High
1500
Current: 954.520
Low
950.00
Averages
1192
High
1500
About LLY
Eli Lilly and Company is a medicine company, which discovers, develops, manufactures, and market products in a single business segment called human pharmaceutical products. The Company manufacture and distribute its products through facilities in the United States, including Puerto Rico, and in Europe and Asia. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 90 countries. Its Cardiometabolic Health products Basaglar; Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, and others; Humulin, Humulin 70/30, and others; Jardiance; Mounjaro; Trulicity; Zepbound, and others. Its oncology products include Cyramza, Erbitux, Tyvyt, Verzenio, Retevmo, Jaypirca, and others. Its immunology products include Ebglyss, Olumiant, Omvoh, and Taltz. Its neuroscience products include Emgality and Kisunla. Its LillyDirect, a direct-to-patient digital health care platform, provides delivery of select Lilly medicines dispensed by third-party pharmacies to patients.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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