Eli Lilly announces second partnership this year to advance recombinase-based gene editing

Eli Lilly has entered a second partnership this year aimed at developing recombinase-based gene‑editing technologies. The collaboration follows earlier efforts to explore enzymes that can precisely modify DNA, a concept that predates CRISPR.

Recombinases are proteins that can cut and re‑join DNA at specific bacterial sequences, offering high precision but historically being difficult to adapt for therapeutic use. The new partnership seeks to address these technical challenges and make the approach more practical for drug development.

By pursuing this alternative gene‑editing platform, Lilly is diversifying its portfolio of advanced therapies and signaling continued investment in innovative genetic tools.