4E Therapeutics Inc, a neuroscience company developing next-generation treatments for chronic pain, announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY).

This acquisition combines 4E's MNK inhibitors with Lilly's broad neuroscience capabilities and portfolio.

4E is developing a pipeline of orally available MNK inhibitors designed to treat chronic pain by targeting the MNK-eIF4E signalling pathway in peripheral sensory neurons. The compounds are intended to deliver meaningful pain relief while avoiding the central nervous system effects associated with many existing therapeutics.

According to 4E, its lead compound, 4ET1103, is the first MNK inhibitor developed to treat pain to advance to human clinical trials, where it demonstrated a favourable safety profile in a Phase 1 study.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.