Eli Lilly reported additional early Phase 1b results for VERVE-102, a one-time PCSK9 base-editing therapy acquired from Verve Therapeutics. In the company’s update, a single infusion reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by as much as 62% in participants, with reductions sustained for up to 18 months, and no treatment-related serious adverse events reported. The data mark another milestone for base editing in cardiometabolic medicine, after Verve’s earlier lead program was halted for safety concerns. Lilly characterized the results as comparable to what has been seen with PCSK9 antibodies in genetically high-cholesterol populations, while noting the drugs were not tested head-to-head. Separately, Lilly framed VERVE-102 as part of a broader strategy to prevent coronary artery disease, where adherence and access challenges have limited the impact of existing LDL-lowering therapies. Further development is expected to move toward a mid-stage trial as the company builds a clinical package for potential late-stage studies.