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Psychedelic Stocks Rally After Eli Lilly Announces $2.8 Billion AtaiBeckley Acquisition
Shares of companies developing psychedelic-based therapies surged in premarket trading Thursday after Eli Lilly announced it would acquire AtaiBeckley Inc. in a deal valued at up to $3.8 billion. The acquisition sent a wave of optimism through the sector, signaling significant interest from established pharmaceutical players.
The Acquisition Details
Eli Lilly agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of AtaiBeckley for $6.75 per share in cash, according to the announcement. The deal also includes a Contingent Value Right (CVR) of up to an additional $2.50 per share, tied to specific development and regulatory milestones for AtaiBeckley's main drug candidates, BPL-003 and VLS-01.
The upfront cash payment represents an aggregate equity value of approximately $2.8 billion. The CVR could provide an additional $1.0 billion in value to shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.
Market Impact and Sector-Wide Lift
The news triggered a significant rally among publicly traded psychedelic medicine companies. As of Thursday's premarket session:
Ad- AtaiBeckley shares soared 30.8%.
- GH Research (GHRS) jumped 18.9%.
- Compass Pathways (CMPS) rose 7.4%.
Analysts view Lilly's move as a validation of the therapeutic potential and commercial viability of the psychedelic drug class, particularly for treating mental health conditions like treatment-resistant depression.
Analyst Perspective
In a note to clients, RBC Capital stated the deal has a "direct and compelling read-through" for GH Research. Analyst Brian Abrahams highlighted that GH Research's lead asset, GH001, shares a nearly identical mechanism with AtaiBeckley’s BPL-003. Both are based on 5-MeO-DMT and target treatment-resistant depression.
RBC Capital suggested that Lilly's willingness to pay a premium for AtaiBeckley "would set a floor for GHRS shares" and positions the company as an attractive target for other strategic acquirers. The firm maintained its Outperform rating on GH Research with a $40 price target, citing the deal's positive implications for the space's scalability and regulatory outlook.
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