Eli Lilly Signs $2.25B Pact with Profluent for AI-Designed Site-Specific Recombinases in Genetic Medicine
Profluent, the Bezos-backed AI biotech, announced April 28 a multi-program research collaboration with Eli Lilly worth up to $2.25B in development and commercial milestones plus tiered royalties. Profluent will use its AI platform to design custom recombinases that integrate or modify large stretches of DNA at precise genomic loci, with the goal of generating site-specific gene-editing therapies for diseases of severe unmet need. The deal extends Lilly's diversification beyond peptide therapeutics, following a $1.12B Seamless Therapeutics recombinase deal in January 2026 and the closed Kelonia Therapeutics, Centessa, Orna, and Ajax acquisitions earlier in the quarter.