Eli Lilly struck a collaboration with Ascidian Therapeutics to develop RNA exon editor therapies for inherited kidney diseases, with deal value potentially reaching $1.9 billion. Lilly will gain exclusive rights to Ascidian’s RNA exon editing technology for undisclosed monogenic kidney targets, with an option to add more targets over time. Under the pact, Ascidian leads discovery and early preclinical work while Lilly handles later-stage preclinical development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and commercialization. The companies said the approach edits RNA via trans-splicing using the cell’s endogenous machinery, avoiding permanent changes to DNA and enabling multiple exons to be replaced at a time within delivery constraints.