Path: /companies/eli-lilly
Status: Public (NYSE: LLY)
Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Founded: 1876
CEO: David A. Ricks
Market Cap: ~$800B (2025)
Website: lilly.com
Eli Lilly and Company is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with a significant investment in neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease therapeutics. The company gained a leading position in the tauopathy space through its acquisition of Swiss biotech Asceneuron in 2023, adding OGA inhibitors to its pipeline.
Lilly's neuroscience division has grown to become one of its highest-priority therapeutic areas:
| Drug | Mechanism | Indication | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zaniglusemab (LY3372689) | OGA inhibitor | PSP | Phase 2 (LOTUS) |
| Zaniglusemab (LY3372689) | OGA inhibitor | AD (MAGNOLIA) | Phase 2 |
| Remternetug | Anti-tau antibody | AD | Phase 3 |
| LY3891044 | Tau aggregation inhibitor | Preclinical | Research |
Zaniglusemab (formerly ASN90) is an O-GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitor developed by Asceneuron and acquired by Lilly in 2023. The drug targets tau pathology by reducing tau hyperphosphorylation through O-GlcNAc modification.
| Milestone | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 2015-2019 | Asceneuron OGA inhibitor program |
| Phase 1 | 2020 | Safety, PK, CSF target engagement |
| Phase 2 AD (MAGNOLIA) | 2021-2024 | Early AD, biomarker effects confirmed |
| Lilly Acquisition | 2023 | $60M upfront + milestones |
| Phase 2 PSP (LOTUS) | 2022-Present | First OGA inhibitor in PSP |
| Expected Results | Q4 2026 | LOTUS primary endpoint |
LOTUS (Lyming OGA inhibitor Trial in PSP) is the pivotal Phase 2 study:
The MAGNOLIA Phase 2 study in early Alzheimer's disease:
Zaniglusemab works by inhibiting O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc modifications from proteins:
PSP and other 4R-tauopathies show:
The 2023 acquisition of Asceneuron reflects Lilly's tauopathy strategy:
Lilly is pursuing a multi-mechanism tau strategy:
Lilly's neuroscience investment:
The tauopathy market represents significant opportunity: