(Reuters) -Superluminal Medicines said on Thursday it had signed a deal with U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly ( LLY ) worth up to $1.3 billion to discover and develop obesity drugs.

The deal will give Lilly access to Superluminal's proprietary platform to discover drug targets related to cardiometabolic diseases and obesity.

Superluminal's lead oral obesity drug candidate is expected to begin human trials next year.

As part of the deal, Superluminal is eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments, an equity investment as well as tiered royalties on net sales, the company said.