Eli Lilly agreed to acquire three vaccine developers—Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company—for up to nearly $4 billion total, aiming to expand an infectious disease portfolio centered on prevention. The companies bring programs spanning viral and bacterial pathogen R&D. Lilly said Curevo’s lead asset is an experimental shingles vaccine using a “next-generation synthetic adjuvant,” engineered to improve tolerability while maintaining immune responses seen with standard-of-care shots in Phase 2. LimmaTech is focused on vaccines for bacterial infections, an area where antimicrobial resistance pressures continue to grow. Lilly’s deal expands an acquisition spree in 2026 that already includes multiple therapeutic areas. The company also highlighted internal leadership for infectious disease development, including its hiring of Peter Marks, the FDA’s former vaccine chief, as head of infectious disease. Taken together, the transactions signal Lilly’s willingness to deploy blockbuster cash flows toward earlier-stage prevention platforms, with vaccine manufacturing and clinical scaling expected to be key near-term operational priorities.