VERVE-101 andVERVE-102 are an experimentalgene therapy developed byVerve Therapeutics that targets thePCSK9 gene and is intended to reduce blood cholesterol levels. It works on the same protein as the cholesterol-lowering drugs known asPCSK9 inhibitors but, unlike them, is permanent. It works viabase editing, a form ofCRISPR gene editing. It is one of the first gene therapies that could be beneficial to a broad segment of the population, in contrast to earlier gene therapies that were developed to treat a rare genetic disorder.[1][2][3][4][5] Both treatments use the same RNA gene editing technology, but they use a differentlipid nanoparticle delivery vehicle.[6]
Lilly Inc.’s acquisition ofVerve Therapeutics, Inc. was announced as a major biotechnology transaction in the gene-editing and cardiovascular therapeutics sector on June 17, 2025.[7] Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly Inc. acquired100% of Verve Therapeutics’ equity. The acquisition is widely viewed as a strategic move to accelerate Lilly’s expansion into in vivo gene-editing therapies.
^Philippidis, Alex (1 January 2023). "StockWatch: Verve Investors Accentuate the Negative as Shares Tumble, Then Recover: Safety concerns propel 40% drop before stock bounces back as analysts, researchers focus on VERVE-101's positive human proof-of-concept data".GEN Edge.5 (1):808–813.doi:10.1089/genedge.5.1.153.S2CID265960415.
^Knutsen, Ashleen (1 March 2022). "Opening New Lines of Attack against Cardiovascular Disease: Developers of cardiovascular drugs hope to disrupt newly identified molecular mechanisms by deploying highly specific small-molecule drugs and gene therapies".Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.42 (3):62–65.doi:10.1089/gen.42.03.19.S2CID247339058.
