Key Highlights:
- $13 million upfront payment from Eli Lilly to Creyon Bio
- Total potential deal value exceeding $1 billion
- Focus: AI-powered RNA-targeted oligo therapies
- Technology: Quantum chemistry engine for predictive modeling
- Outcome: Faster development, fewer failed trials, improved precision
INDIANAPOLIS, IN & SAN DIEGO, CA – In a major signal of the industry’s growing confidence in AI-driven drug development, Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a strategic research and licensing agreement with Creyon Bio. The deal includes $13 million upfront in cash and equity and could exceed $1 billion in total if successful therapies are developed and commercialized.
At the heart of the collaboration lies Creyon Bio’s quantum chemistry-based AI platform, a novel engine designed to model molecular interactions at the atomic level. This innovation enables the design of RNA-targeted oligonucleotide drugs with a level of speed and accuracy unattainable by traditional trial-and-error methods.
“This collaboration represents a powerful synergy between scientific rigor and computational innovation,” said Serge Messerlian, CEO of Creyon Bio. “We are excited to work with Lilly to bring safer, more effective RNA therapies to patients around the world.”
The exclusive partnership allows Eli Lilly to lead and commercialize any successful therapeutics that emerge from the program, aimed at tackling both rare and prevalent diseases.
“Creyon has built the first industry-scale AI engine for RNA-targeted drug design using quantum chemistry — eliminating bottlenecks from conventional discovery timelines,” said Dr. Swagatam Mukhopadhyay, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Creyon.
The partnership reinforces Eli Lilly’s long-term investment in next-gen AI platforms for therapeutic discovery and expands its footprint in RNA-based medicine, a rapidly growing class of therapeutics.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly is a global pharmaceutical leader dedicated to advancing cutting-edge science and delivering transformative medicines. The company is increasingly investing in AI and computational tools to enhance R&D productivity.
About Creyon Bio
Creyon Bio, based in San Diego, pioneers the use of quantum chemistry and AI in designing RNA oligonucleotide drugs. Its platform aims to streamline drug development, reduce cost, and increase the success rate of RNA-targeted therapies.
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