Lilly adds $870M to Gate Bioscience partnership to pursue new drug targets

Eli Lilly is expanding its collaboration with Gate Bioscience, adding a new financial commitment of more than $870 million.

The original July 2025 agreement gave Lilly access to Gate’s "Molecular Gate" engine to develop small-molecule drugs that target difficult extracellular proteins. The new multi-year deal adds one undisclosed target and includes an option to add a second.

Under the terms, Gate will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and an additional payment if a second target is selected, with further milestone payments possible after preclinical work.

The partnership aims to create a new class of drugs, referred to by Gate as "molecular gates," to address diseases with high unmet need.