1. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 132
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is among the best immunology stocks.
TheFly reported on May 26 that LLY agreed to acquire Vaccine Company, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech focused on in vivo nanoparticle vaccine technology designed to mimic virus-like particle immune responses without the complex manufacturing required for traditional VLP approaches. The company’s pipeline includes multiple preclinical programs targeting viral diseases, with its lead Epstein-Barr Virus candidate advancing toward Phase 1 readiness using a five-antigen design.
The acquisition deal values Vaccine Company at up to $1.55 billion in cash, structured with an upfront payment plus additional milestone-based payouts tied to clinical and commercial progress. The technology is being explored for the prevention of EBV-related conditions, including infectious mononucleosis and potential long-term neurological and oncologic outcomes.
Separately, on May 25, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported positive Phase 1b Heart-2 study data for VERVE-102, an investigational in vivo base-editing therapy intended to permanently inactivate the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce LDL cholesterol after a single infusion. The study enrolled adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or premature coronary artery disease.
Interim results from 35 participants showed a single intravenous dose produced dose-dependent declines in circulating PCSK9 protein ranging from 51% to 88%, alongside LDL-C reductions spanning 9% to 62% across dose groups. These lipid-lowering effects were sustained, with durability observed for up to 18 months after treatment, supporting prolonged therapeutic activity following one administration.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments in cardiometabolic diseases, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. It is a growing leader in immunology, with a portfolio of biologic and targeted therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory conditions.
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