Lilly to Acquire Ajax for $2.3B to Push Next-Gen JAK2 Inhibitor AJ1-11095
Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Ajax Therapeutics for up to $2.3 billion to advance AJ1-11095, a first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor in phase 1 for myelofibrosis. Lilly says the Type II inhibitor could yield deeper and more durable efficacy than existing Type I JAK2 inhibitors and help patients who develop resistance, based on Ajax’s preclinical data and a Schrödinger collaboration. The deal comprises upfront and milestone payments, and Lilly plans registrational trials after forthcoming proof-of-concept data in 2026, underscoring its ongoing aggressive biotech dealmaking.
