Key TakeawaysEli Lilly to acquire AtaiBeckley at $6.75 cash per share, representing a $2.8 billion upfront transaction valueATAI shares surged 34% in premarket hours Thursday after initially spiking more than 50% following Bloomberg’s reportThe acquisition price represents a 40% premium over AtaiBeckley’s trailing 30-day volume-weighted averageAdditional contingent consideration of up to $2.50 per share tied to development and regulatory achievementsPsychedelic sector peers also gained, with GH Research climbing 15% and Compass Pathways rising 7%Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has reached an agreement to acquire psychedelic therapy developer AtaiBeckley in a transaction valued at $2.8 billion upfront, propelling ATAI shares 34% higher during Thursday’s premarket session.Atai Beckley Inc., ATAIShares of AtaiBeckley were changing hands at $7.19 before the opening bell, marking a 34.2% increase. The stock had initially surged beyond 50% when Bloomberg first disclosed late Wednesday that Lilly was in advanced negotiations for an acquisition at a significant premium.Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will pay $6.75 cash for each AtaiBeckley share. Additionally, stockholders stand to collect up to $2.50 per share in contingent value rights tied to achieving specific development and regulatory objectives.The $6.75 purchase price delivers a substantial 40% premium compared to AtaiBeckley’s 30-day volume-weighted average trading price.Prior to the deal announcement, ATAI stock had already posted a 31% gain year-to-date through Wednesday’s market close.Much of the 2025 appreciation occurred in April, when the stock rocketed 22% in a single session following President Trump’s executive order aimed at accelerating FDA evaluation pathways for psychedelic treatments targeting severe mental health conditions.AtaiBeckley’s flagship candidate is BPL-003, an intranasal delivery system for 5-MeO-DMT under investigation as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression.Psychedelic Sector Momentum BuildsThe acquisition announcement created positive ripple effects throughout the psychedelic medicine sector. GH Research advanced 15%, Compass Pathways posted a 7% gain, Definium Therapeutics rose 6%, and Enveric Biosciences edged up 3% in premarket activity.BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman observed that while the transaction could surpass $2 billion in value, competing interest from other major pharmaceutical players might drive the ultimate purchase price even higher.RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams suggested the psychedelic treatment category is positioned for continued momentum and growing mainstream acceptance.Expanding Lilly’s Neuroscience PortfolioThis transaction aligns with Lilly‘s established M&A strategy, which has emphasized neuroscience acquisitions. The company’s latest major transaction was the $7.8 billion purchase of sleep disorder specialist Centessa Pharmaceuticals.Lilly shares showed minimal movement on Thursday, edging up just 0.3% in premarket trading.AtaiBeckley carried a market capitalization of $1.97 billion at Wednesday’s closing bell, based on LSEG data.When combining the upfront payment with maximum milestone achievements, the transaction’s total potential value reaches $9.25 per share.The post Eli Lilly Acquires AtaiBeckley (ATAI) for $2.8B, Stock Jumps 34% appeared first on Blockonomi.