Nektar Gets $90 Million Jury Award in Breach Suit Vs Eli Lilly
By Colin Kellaher
Nektar Therapeutics said it has won a $90 million verdict in its lawsuit against Eli Lilly related to the development of its proposed autoimmune drug Rezpegaldesleukin, or rezpeg.
Nektar said a California jury found that Eli Lilly breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in a 2017 licensing agreement and awarded the San Francisco company $90 million in damages, plus interest to be determined by the court.
Eli Lilly representatives couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Nektar and Eli Lilly in 2017 agreed to work together to develop rezpeg for various autoimmune diseases.
Nektar sued Eli Lilly in 2023, alleging the Indianapolis drugmaker undermined rezpeg's prospects after Eli Lilly shelled out more than $1 billion in 2020 to buy Dermira, which was developing its own autoimmune drug, lebrikizumab.
Eli Lilly won Food and Drug Administration approval for lebrikizumab, marketed as Ebglyss, in 2024.
Nektar said the jury's verdict remains subject to post-trial proceedings, and that any resulting judgment may be subject to appeal.
Nektar is still developing rezpeg, its lead program, and launched a phase 3 study of the drug in atopic dermatitis in July.
Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 25, 2026 08:09 ET (12:09 GMT)
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