Lilly backs biotech breakthrough in non-opioid pain treatment

Eli Lilly is doubling down on neuroscience with its acquisition of SiteOne Therapeutics, a biotech pushing the frontier of non-opioid pain relief. At the centre is STC-004, a promising treatment for chronic pain that avoids the addictive risks of opioids—a critical pivot as global demand rises for safer solutions.

Lilly will drive STC-004 through Phase 2 trials and global commercialisation, with SiteOne standing to gain up to $1 billion based on development milestones. The deal also extends Lilly’s interest in other sensory disorders like chronic cough and ocular pain—highlighting a broader play for market differentiation beyond traditional therapeutic categories.

For pharma leaders, this move signals a growing emphasis on neuroscience assets with scalable, global relevance—and a shift away from legacy pain management models.

Read the full article to explore how this deal positions Lilly in the race for next-generation pain therapeutics.