LILLY TO ACQUIRE MERIDA BIOSCIENCES TO ADVANCE TREATMENTS FOR SERIOUS AUTOIMMUNE AND ALLERGIC DISEASES || UNDER TERMS OF AGREEMENT, LILLY WILL ACQUIRE MERIDA AND PAY UP TO $2.875 BLN IN CASH || TO BUY MERIDA FOR UP TO $2.88 BLN IN CASH || DEAL EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN Q4 2026 SUBJECT TO REGULATORY APPROVALS 31-AUG-2026 06:46 AM ET