Eli Lilly paid $100 million up front to license clazakizumab, an IL‑6–blocking monoclonal antibody from CSL, securing rights to develop the drug in indications outside CSL’s retained kidney disease program. CSL will keep rights for end‑stage kidney disease while Lilly will pursue other inflammatory and immunologic indications. The license includes milestone and royalty provisions and follows Lilly’s recent string of external acquisitions and licensing moves to broaden its immunology pipeline alongside its obesity and diabetes franchises. Lilly framed the deal as a strategic bolt‑on to its broader inflammation strategy. CSL retains development in its Phase III kidney program; Lilly gains a validated IL‑6 asset that could compete with established IL‑6 pathway drugs depending on trial results and positioning.