Centessa Pharmaceuticals Acquired by Lilly | Healthcare M&A Deal

Lilly has acquired Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceuticals business in the UK, for US$694 million. Centessa develops orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist sleep-wake disorder therapies, including cleminorexton (ORX750), ORX142, and ORX489, with clinical development focused on improving outcomes in neurological sleep disorders. Lilly acquisitions in healthcare M&A aim to expand its neuroscience and sleep-wake disorder pipeline through this strategic acquisition of a late-stage OX2R portfolio. The merger acquisition is announced as a strategic acquisition by a strategic buyer, with expected completion around March 31, 2026, and Nxera Pharma retaining milestone and royalty rights tied to the OX2R agonists.