Repertoire® Immune Medicines, a biotechnology company focused on programmable T cell–targeted immune medicines, has entered into a major strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to develop a new generation of therapies for multiple autoimmune diseases. The partnership aims to create “tolerizing” treatments designed to restore immune balance and induce durable disease remission without the broad immune suppression associated with many current autoimmune therapies.
Under the collaboration, Repertoire will take the lead in research and early development activities up to the nomination of development candidates. Once candidates are selected, Lilly will assume responsibility for clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory engagement, and global commercialization. The companies are targeting autoimmune conditions where existing therapies often manage symptoms but fail to address the underlying immune dysfunction driving disease progression.
At the core of the collaboration is Repertoire’s proprietary DECODE™ platform, a T cell receptor (TCR)–epitope discovery technology that maps the molecular interactions between T cells and disease-relevant antigens. By identifying these precise immune targets, Repertoire aims to develop therapies that retrain the immune system to tolerate self-antigens rather than attack them, potentially offering long-lasting remission instead of chronic disease control.
Repertoire’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Torben Straight Nissen, Ph.D., said the partnership significantly expands the company’s partnered pipeline and reinforces its mission to tackle autoimmune disease at its root cause. He emphasized that the DECODE platform enables discoveries that could reset the immune system to a healthier state, rather than relying on generalized immune suppression that can leave patients vulnerable to infections and other complications.
Nissen also highlighted Lilly’s longstanding leadership in immunology and its track record of advancing innovative medicines for patients with significant unmet needs. He noted that working with a global pharmaceutical company with deep clinical and commercial expertise increases the likelihood that Repertoire’s scientific advances can be translated into transformative therapies for patients.
For Lilly, the collaboration aligns with its broader strategy of investing in next-generation immunology approaches that go beyond symptom management. By partnering with Repertoire, Lilly gains access to a differentiated discovery engine and novel therapeutic concepts that could complement and expand its existing autoimmune disease portfolio.
The financial terms of the agreement underscore the scale and ambition of the partnership. Repertoire will receive an upfront payment of $85 million, providing immediate capital to support its research efforts. In addition, the company is eligible to receive up to $1.84 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on net sales of any approved products arising from the collaboration.
As autoimmune diseases continue to affect millions of patients worldwide, often requiring lifelong treatment, the Repertoire–Lilly alliance reflects growing industry interest in precision immune therapies that aim for durable remission. If successful, tolerizing therapies developed through this partnership could represent a meaningful shift in how autoimmune diseases are treated, moving from chronic suppression toward long-term immune restoration.