Centessa Pharmaceuticals (CNTA) Surges on $7.8B Eli Lilly Acquisition News

Font: Financial Modeling Prep  • Apr 02, 2026

Centessa Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ:CNTA) Surges on Eli Lilly Acquisition News

• Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Centessa in a deal valued at up to $7.8 billion, consisting of $38.00 per share in cash upfront plus contingent value rights (CVRs) worth up to an additional $9.00 per share.
• Centessa's stock reached a new all-time high near $40.00 per share following the announcement, with significantly elevated trading volume reflecting strong investor reaction.
• The company reported Q4 2025 results with an EPS of -$0.48, missing analyst expectations of approximately -$0.38, consistent with its pre-commercial stage and ongoing R&D investment.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:CNTA) is a U.K.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists for the treatment of sleep-wake disorders and related neurological conditions.

On March 31, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Centessa in a transaction valued at up to approximately $7.8 billion. The deal offers Centessa shareholders $38.00 per share in cash (representing an equity value of ~$6.3 billion and a premium of roughly 38–40.5% to the pre-announcement price) plus one non-transferable contingent value right (CVR) per share.

The CVR could deliver up to an additional $9.00 per share (potential aggregate value of ~$1.5 billion), tied to the following FDA approval milestones for cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) or ORX142:

• $2.00 upon approval for narcolepsy type 2 before the fifth anniversary of closing.
• $5.00 upon approval for idiopathic hypersomnia before the fifth anniversary of closing.
• $2.00 upon the first approval for any indication before January 1, 2030.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval, court sanction in England and Wales, regulatory clearances, and other customary conditions.

Following the announcement, Centessa shares surged approximately 44–45%, trading as high as $40.00 (a new all-time high) with unusually high volume exceeding 47 million shares on March 31. The stock has continued trading near $39.70–$40.00 in subsequent sessions.

Leerink Partners reiterated a "Market Perform" rating on Centessa while raising its price target to $40.00 (from $36.00), aligning closely with the deal's upfront value. Increased call option activity also signaled heightened investor interest and speculation around the transaction.

The acquisition provides Eli Lilly with a promising pipeline of OX2R agonists, led by cleminorexton, currently in mid-stage (Phase 2) trials for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. This move strategically expands Lilly’s neuroscience portfolio into the sleep medicine space, complementing its strengths in metabolic diseases.