07:44 AM EST, 01/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Eli Lilly ( LLY ) and Seamless Therapeutics have signed a $1.12 billion collaboration and licensing deal to develop and commercialize programmable recombinase-based treatments for hearing loss, Seamless said Wednesday.

Under the terms of the deal, Seamless said it will design and program "site-specific recombinases" targeting mutations in certain genes related to hearing loss, while Eli Lilly ( LLY ) will get an exclusive license to the recombinases to advance through preclinical and clinical drug development and commercialization.

Seamless said it would be eligible to receive over $1.12 billion, including an upfront payment and potential milestone payments.

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.