Eli Lilly has agreed to acquire clinical-stage biotech AtaiBeckley for an upfront cash payment of $2.8 billion. The deal prices AtaiBeckley at $6.75 per share. Total consideration could reach $3.8 billion based on development and regulatory milestones.
The acquisition secures Lilly’s control over a pipeline of neuroplastogens. This includes lead candidate BPL-003, a synthetic psychedelic compound currently in testing for treatment-resistant depression.
The move signals a major validation of psychedelic drugs by a top pharmaceutical firm. It significantly expands Lilly’s existing neuroscience portfolio. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.