Nimbus Therapeutics and Eli Lilly Expand Partnership to Develop Novel Oral Obesity Therapy

Nimbus Therapeutics and Eli Lilly Expand Partnership to Develop Novel Oral Obesity Therapy

By, Admin 9 January 2026

Nimbus Therapeutics and Eli Lilly are doubling down on obesity drug innovation.

The two companies have entered a multi-year research collaboration and exclusive global licensing agreement to develop a novel oral therapy for obesity and other metabolic diseases.

This marks a deepening of an already active partnership.

Building on an Existing Collaboration

This is not the first time Nimbus and Lilly have teamed up. The companies previously collaborated on:

  • AMPK-targeted therapies
  • Cardiometabolic disease programs

The new agreement extends that relationship into early-stage small molecule discovery for obesity.

Why This Collaboration Matters

Obesity remains one of the largest unmet needs in metabolic medicine. Current treatments:

  • Are often injectable
  • Have tolerability and adherence challenges
  • Leave room for safer, oral alternatives

Nimbus and Lilly are aiming to change that.

Nimbus’ AI-Driven Drug Discovery Engine

Nimbus brings a strong computational edge. Its platform combines:

  • AI-enhanced computational chemistry
  • Structure-based drug design
  • Machine learning predictive models

This approach helps Nimbus tackle difficult-to-drug targets with higher precision and speed.

According to Nimbus, this integration has consistently delivered optimized clinical candidates.

Lilly’s Strategic Bet on Metabolic Disease

For Lilly, the collaboration strengthens its obesity pipeline. Ruth Gimeno, group vice president for diabetes and metabolic R&D at Lilly, highlighted:

  • Nimbus’ ability to solve complex discovery challenges
  • The importance of expanding Lilly’s metabolic portfolio
  • A shared goal of advancing innovative therapies for patients

This partnership fits squarely into Lilly’s long-term obesity strategy.

Financial Terms at a Glance

The deal carries significant upside for Nimbus.

Key financial highlights include:

  • $55 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments
  • Up to $1.3 billion in total potential milestones
  • Tiered royalties on global net sales

The structure reflects confidence in the program’s long-term potential.

What Happens Next?

Nimbus will apply its discovery engine to:

  • Identify and optimize novel small molecules
  • Advance early-stage candidates toward development

Lilly will bring:

  • Deep metabolic disease expertise
  • Clinical development and commercialization strength

If successful, the collaboration could deliver a first-in-class oral obesity therapy.

The Bigger Picture

This deal signals a clear trend. Big pharma is increasingly:

  • Partnering with AI-driven biotech companies
  • Betting on computational discovery platforms
  • Looking for oral alternatives in obesity care

Nimbus–Lilly is a textbook example of that shift.

Bottom Line

Nimbus and Lilly are not just collaborating. They are:

  • Combining AI-driven discovery with metabolic expertise
  • Targeting one of the largest global health challenges
  • Creating a potential blockbuster pathway in obesity

For the obesity drug landscape, this is a partnership worth watching.

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