Eli Lilly has acquired Engage Biologics, a preclinical biotech specializing in non-viral DNA delivery, today announced that it has been acquired by Eli Lilly, in a cash deal that could reach up to $202 million.
The California-based start-up has developed the Tethosome platform, a novel non-viral DNA delivery system designed to overcome key limitations in DNA delivery, including potency, tolerability and redosability. The platform combines engineered DNA payloads with lipid nanoparticle delivery and an mRNA-encoded proprietary technology designed to enhance localization and increase expression.
Eli Lilly has been on a CGT spending spree, most recently betting up to $7 billion on Boston-based Kelonia Therapeutics in April in a bid to boost its in vivo CAR-T cell therapy capabilities. Back in February, Lilly bought Massachusetts-based Orna Therapeutics, picking up Orna’s in vivo CAR-T pipeline for up to $2.4 billion. In October 2025, Lilly acquired California-based Adverum Biotechnologies, including its lead candidate, ixo-vec, a phase 3 gene therapy designed to treat vision loss associated with wet age-related macular degeneration.
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