Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Verve Therapeutics for about $1 billion upfront, adding a potential treatment for cardiovascular disease to its portfolio. Under the agreement, the pharmaceutical company will buy all of the gene-editing startup’s shares outstanding for $10.

Eli Lilly has struck a deal to buy Crispr gene-editing start-up Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3bn, the latest acquisition by the world’s most valuable drugmaker as it seeks to boost its pipeline of experimental medicines.

The acquisition aligns with Eli Lilly’s broader diversification strategy beyond its core diabetes and obesity treatment portfolio.