Nimbus Therapeutics, Eli Lilly Partner to Develop Novel Oral Metabolic Drug

Nimbus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, announced its partnership with Eli Lilly and Company in a multiyear research collaboration to develop a novel oral treatment for obesity and other metabolic diseases.1

The partnership succeeds Nimbus and Lilly’s original collaboration to develop and commercialize small-molecule activators of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in October 2022.2 Under the extended agreement, announced January 6, 2026, the companies will use Nimbus Therapeutics’ computational chemistry and structure-based drug design approach in an early-stage, small molecule discovery program to address unmet needs in obesity care.1 Nimbus Therapeutics specializes in clinical-stage, structure-based drug discovery, developing novel small-molecule medicines designed to treat difficult-to-drug targets in multiple human diseases. The company’s partnership aims to harness the strengths of each company to develop a drug with the potential to improve the lives of those with obesity or other metabolic diseases.

Nimbus Therapeutics and Eli Lilly announced their partnership to develop a novel oral drug for patients with obesity and other metabolic diseases. | Image credit: ARMMY PICCA_AdobeStock.jpeg

“At Nimbus, computational scientists, medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and translational biologists work together to integrate AI-driven predictive models with structure-based design to develop novel small molecules with best-in-class potential,” Peter Tummino, PhD, president of research and development at Nimbus Therapeutics, said in a press release.1 “This integration has enabled us to consistently deliver optimized clinical candidates for difficult-to-drug targets.”

The collaboration will grant Nimbus Therapeutics $55 million in compounded upfront and near-term milestone payments. The company will also be eligible to receive approximately $1.3 billion over the course of the collaboration in development, commercial, and sales milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on global net sales.1

AMPK is a key regulator of cellular energy metabolism, yet despite its potential as a promising therapeutic target, developing specific AMPK isoforms has been technically challenging in the past; previous attempts and drug targeting were unsuccessful. However, through its partnership with Eli Lilly, Nimbus Therapeutics, leveraging its computational approaches and structure-based drug design, was able to overcome preexisting challenges.2

Current treatments for patients with obesity entail numerous barriers related to costs, access, and awareness.3 Previous studies have cited insurance-related barriers, like restrictive coverage policies and lengthy preauthorizations, as reasons for low uptake of treatments for obesity and metabolic diseases. The usage rate of antiobesity medication and bariatric surgery remains low in the US, and there exist significant disparities among those who receive treatment.3

“Working together to develop this novel obesity therapy represents an important addition to Lilly’s efforts to advance innovative treatment options for patients with metabolic disorders,” Ruth Gimeno, group vice president of diabetes and metabolic research and development at Eli Lilly, said in today’s press release.

A novel oral therapy for obesity and other metabolic diseases has the potential to increase accessibility for patients and offer a cost-effective alternative to current treatments. In the news release, both Tummino and Gimeno expressed their excitement for the partnership, looking forward to the impact they can make by developing this novel drug for people with obesity or other metabolic diseases.

“We are excited to collaborate with Lilly on another program, combining our discovery capabilities with their metabolic disease expertise to bring a much-needed new treatment to people with obesity and make a meaningful difference in their lives,” Tummino said.

“We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Nimbus, a team that has demonstrated exceptional ability to tackle complex drug discovery challenges,” Gimeno said.

References

1. Nimbus Therapeutics announces research collaboration and license agreement with Lilly for novel oral obesity treatment. News release. Nimbus Therapeutics. January 6, 2026. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.nimbustx.com/2026/01/06/nimbus-therapeutics-announces-research-collaboration-and-license-agreement-with-lilly-for-novel-oral-obesity-treatment/

2. Nimbus Therapeutics achieves research milestone in collaboration with Lilly. News release. Nimbus Therapeutics. February 25, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.nimbustx.com/2025/02/25/nimbus-therapeutics-achieves-research-milestone-in-collaboration-with-lilly/

3. Klein HE. How socioeconomic and clinical factors influence obesity treatment. AJMC®. October 5, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/how-socioeconomic-and-clinical-factors-influence-obesity-treatment