4E Therapeutics Acquired By Eli Lilly To Advance Non-Opioid Approach To Chronic Pain

4E Therapeutics, Inc. (4E), an Austin-based neuroscience company developing non-addictive treatments for chronic pain, announced its acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

4E is developing a pipeline of orally available MAP kinase-interacting kinase (MNK) inhibitor compounds that interrupt pain signaling at its source. The compounds target the MNK-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) signaling pathway in peripheral sensory neurons. The compounds are intended to relieve pain while avoiding the central nervous system effects associated with many existing therapeutics.

4E's portfolio of programs target neuropathic pain, migraine, acute . . .