Eli Lilly Acquires Morphic to Expand IBD Treatment Portfolio

The biopharmaceutical company Morphic Holding, Inc., which is developing oral integrin therapies for treating serious chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has been acquired by Eli Lilly and Co. MORF-057 is a selective oral small molecule inhibitor of α4β7 integrin.

Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Lilly and president of Lilly Research Laboratories and Lilly Immunology, stated, "We hold promise in improving outcomes and expanding treatment options for people with devastating conditions like IBD." "We are committed to exploring innovative approaches for immunologic diseases," Skovronsky added. "By leveraging the solid foundation of Omvoh, our first-in-class molecule that has been approved and launched globally for ulcerative colitis and is undergoing regulatory review for Crohn's disease, we are strengthening our growing capabilities in gastroenterology with the acquisition of Morphic." Additionally, the purchase gives Lilly the opportunity to investigate prospective combo therapies that can benefit patients in ways that go beyond what is now achievable with existing medications."