LLY Stock Climbs Pre-Market On $2.4 Deal To Acquire Orna Therapeutics

• Orna’s ORN-252 is a clinical trial-ready CAR-T therapy that targets CD19, a critical cell surface protein to treat B cell-driven autoimmune diseases.
• Early studies indicate Orna’s circular RNA technology could help the body produce therapeutic proteins for a longer period.
• Previously, Orna had tied up with Merck and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) announced on Monday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Orna Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm focused on cell therapies. Orna shareholders could receive up to $2.4 billion in cash, including upfront and milestone-based payments. 

LLY stock was up 1.7% in pre-market trading on Monday.

The acquisition will strengthen Lilly’s pipeline with a new class of therapies built on engineered circular RNA and proprietary lipid nanoparticles, enabling the body to generate its own disease-fighting cell therapies.

Orna’s RNA Technology

Orna’s lead candidate, ORN-252, is a clinical trial-ready CAR-T therapy that targets CD19, a critical cell surface protein to treat B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases. Early studies indicate Orna’s circular RNA technology could help the body produce therapeutic proteins for a longer period, potentially enabling treatments not possible with existing RNA or cell therapies.

“Early autologous CAR-T studies have shown the promise of cell therapy for patients with autoimmune diseases, but the complexity, cost, and logistics of ex vivo approaches make it challenging to deliver these breakthroughs to the broader population of patients who need them. We look forward to working with Orna colleagues to potentially unlock an entirely new class of genetic medicines and cell therapies for patients who today have limited or no treatment options,” said Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Senior VP, Head of Immunology Research and Early Clinical Development. 

Orna has previously partnered with major pharmaceutical companies for its RNA technology. In 2022, it teamed up with Merck to develop vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases and cancer, and in January 2025, it launched a three-year research collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals focused on next-generation gene-editing therapies.

How Did Stocktwits Users React?

Retail sentiment for LLY on Stocktwits moderated to ‘bullish’ from ‘extremely bullish’ a day earlier, amid ‘high’ message volumes.

The stock has remained in the spotlight since the company posted a better-than-expected fourth-quarter report earlier this month, driven by volume growth from Mounjaro and Zepbound for weight loss.

Over the past year, the stock has gained more than 26%.

Read also: Why Did IINN Stock Surge 28% In Pre-Market Today?

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