INDIANAPOLIS and BOSTON, Mass., April 20, 2026

Eli Lilly and Company has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering in vivo gene delivery, in a deal valued at up to $7.0 billion. The acquisition is set to significantly expand Lilly’s capabilities in genetic medicine and next-generation CAR-T therapies, positioning the company at the forefront of innovation in oncology and cell therapy.

Strategic Expansion into In Vivo CAR-T Cell Therapy

The acquisition centers on Kelonia’s proprietary in vivo gene placement system (iGPS®), a cutting-edge platform that enables the generation of CAR-T cells directly داخل the patient’s body, eliminating the need for complex ex vivo cell manufacturing. This breakthrough approach has the potential to overcome key limitations of traditional CAR-T therapies, including high costs, lengthy production timelines, and limited patient accessibility.

Kelonia’s lead program, KLN-1010, is a first-in-class investigational in vivo CAR-T therapy currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The therapy works by delivering a lentiviral-based gene therapy intravenously, enabling the body to produce anti-BCMA CAR-T cells that specifically target cancer cells expressing the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA).

Early clinical data, highlighted at the 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, demonstrated promising tolerability and encouraging anti-tumor activity, suggesting the potential for rapid and durable responses. This positions KLN-1010 as a transformative candidate in the evolving landscape of cell and gene therapies.

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Clinical and Commercial Potential Driving the Deal

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will provide an upfront payment of $3.25 billion, with additional milestone-based payments tied to clinical, regulatory, and commercial achievements, bringing the total deal value to up to $7.0 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

This strategic acquisition reflects Lilly’s commitment to advancing innovative oncology treatments and addressing unmet medical needs in hematologic malignancies. By integrating Kelonia’s in vivo gene delivery technology, Lilly aims to develop off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies that can be administered more easily and broadly compared to current personalized approaches.

The ability to bypass pre-administration chemotherapy and simplify treatment protocols could significantly improve patient access and treatment scalability, making CAR-T therapies more widely available across healthcare systems.

Transforming the Future of Genetic Medicine

Kelonia’s platform represents a paradigm shift in genetic medicine, enabling precise and efficient gene integration داخل targeted immune cells. Beyond multiple myeloma, the technology holds potential for application across a wide range of cancers and serious diseases, supporting Lilly’s long-term vision of expanding cell therapy beyond current boundaries.

The acquisition also strengthens Lilly’s broader biotechnology and genetic medicine pipeline, aligning with its strategy to leverage advanced biologics, gene therapy, and precision medicine to tackle some of the most challenging diseases globally.

As illustrated in the company announcement (page 1), the integration of Kelonia’s platform with Lilly’s development expertise is expected to accelerate innovation and unlock new therapeutic possibilities, reinforcing the company’s leadership in next-generation oncology solutions.

The acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics marks a major milestone in the evolution of CAR-T therapy, introducing a scalable, in vivo approach that could redefine treatment paradigms in oncology. With KLN-1010 and the iGPS® platform, Lilly is poised to deliver simpler, more accessible, and highly effective cell therapies, potentially transforming outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma and beyond.

Source: Eli Lilly, Kelonia Therapeutics press release