Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2026-01-07 02:19Group 1 - Eli Lilly is in advanced talks to acquire Ventyx Biosciences for over $1 billion to expand its immunology business [1] - Ventyx's stock price increased by 62.59% to $16.34 in after-hours trading, raising its market value by $433.9 million [1] - The acquisition discussions coincide with the upcoming J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, a traditional venue for M&A activity in the pharmaceutical industry [1] Group 2 - Eli Lilly aims to further expand its business in immunology, building on its successes in diabetes and obesity treatments [1] - The company has previously acquired Morphic Therapeutics for $3.2 billion to gain an experimental drug for inflammatory bowel disease [2] - Additionally, Eli Lilly spent $2.4 billion to acquire Dice Therapeutics, which is developing an oral therapy for psoriasis [2]