Reuters: IPOX® Associate Muehlbauer comments on Eli Lilly’s backing of Aktis Oncology’s IPO

In a recent article by Reuters, Aktis Oncology is reported to be targeting a valuation of up to $945.4 million in its upsized IPO, marking the first significant U.S. listing of 2026. The Boston-based developer of tumor-targeting radiopharmaceuticals has secured Eli Lilly as a cornerstone investor, with the pharma giant indicating interest in purchasing approximately $100 million worth of shares. This move underscores a broader expectation on Wall Street for a rebound in biotech listings following a challenging period for the sector.

IPOX® Research Associate Lukas Muehlbauer was featured in the article, providing expert analysis on the significance of this strategic investment.

“Eli Lilly’s commitment shows that Aktis' cancer-targeting technology has passed the scrutiny of a major industry leader. This backing is particularly significant because Big Pharma has been actively buying innovation in the sector.”

In expanded commentary, Muehlbauer further noted that Aktis is capitalizing on the industry shift toward “alpha therapies”, positioning itself as a prime acquisition target in a sector seeing heavy M&A activity after the acqusition of RayzeBio and Point Biopharma shortly after their IPOs. He added that while the biotech IPO market is rebounding, investors remain selective, favoring later-stage pipelines over riskier pre-clinical firms.

Read the full article by Arasu Kannagi Basil on Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/aktis-oncology-aims-raise-up-3177-million-upsized-us-ipo-2026-01-07/