Lilly’s deal spree continues with Ajax takeout: Deals Report

Continuing a streak that had already delivered five substantial M&A deals in 2026, Lilly said early Monday it would acquire privately held Ajax for up to $2.3 billion, adding a clinical therapy for myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The deal gives Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) AJ1-11095, a Type II JAK-2 inhibitor that is now in Phase I testing to treat myelofibrosis. In a December 2025 presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, New York-based Ajax Therapeutics Inc. said the therapy showed stronger efficacy than approved Type I JAK-1/JAK-2 inhibitor Jakafi ruxolitinib from Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ:INCY) in a preclinical model...