Christian Angermayer to Keynote Global Psychedelic Week 2026: Lessons from AtaiBeckley's Acquisition by Eli Lilly
A fireside conversation on the largest deal in psychedelics, AtaiBeckley's path to Eli Lilly, and what comes next for the field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 8, 2026
Global Psychedelic Week today announced that Christian Angermayer, investor and co-founder of Atai and AtaiBeckley, will headline Psychedelic Business Day on Friday, November 6 with a keynote fireside conversation: "Lessons from the Largest Deal in Psychedelics: AtaiBeckley's Path to Eli Lilly." The 30-minute session will be moderated by Milica Radovic Mandic, Founder of Bizdelics and organizer of Global Psychedelic Week.
"We are honored to welcome Christian Angermayer to Global Psychedelic Week," said Milica Radovic Mandic. "He has been one of the most influential builders and backers in this field, and the AtaiBeckley acquisition by Eli Lilly is a defining moment for everyone working in psychedelics. This conversation will look at what it took to get here and what it means for the people and organizations shaping what comes next."
The conversation comes as the psychedelic industry absorbs one of the biggest moments in its history. According to Forbes, Eli Lilly acquired AtaiBeckley for $2.8 billion, with up to an additional $1 billion in potential milestone payments. It is the largest deal the psychedelics sector has seen.
What happened with AtaiBeckley and Eli Lilly
AtaiBeckley was formed in 2025 through the merger of Atai, which Christian Angermayer co-founded in 2017, and Beckley Psytech. The company's lead program is BPL-003, a nasal spray being developed for treatment-resistant depression and currently in Phase III trials. Christian Angermayer has said that a 2014 psilocybin experience inspired his move into psychedelic medicine development, and he has been one of the field's most prominent backers for years.
With Eli Lilly, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, acquiring AtaiBeckley, a company built around psychedelic-derived treatments is now part of big pharma.
Why the AtaiBeckley acquisition matters for the psychedelic industry
Industry observers are likely to debate what the AtaiBeckley deal means for the field. Questions to watch include:
Capital and confidence: Will the Eli Lilly acquisition of AtaiBeckley encourage more investment in psychedelic medicine, and which kinds of companies will benefit?
Clinical development: What does a pharma buyer's interest in a nasal-spray psychedelic treatment signal for how these therapies will be developed, tested, and scaled?
Regulation and access: How might larger players shape regulatory pathways, pricing, and patient access?
The rest of the ecosystem: What does a deal like this mean for smaller companies, retreat operators, clinics, and nonprofits working outside the pharma model?
What Christian Angermayer and Milica Radovic Mandic will discuss
In this keynote fireside, Christian Angermayer will reflect with Milica Radovic Mandic on building Atai and AtaiBeckley, what he learned along the way, and how he sees the business of psychedelics evolving after the Eli Lillyacquisition. Topics will include:
How AtaiBeckley went from founding vision to the largest deal in psychedelics
What the Eli Lilly acquisition means for investors, founders, and clinicians
How to scale psychedelic medicine responsibly while keeping access and integrity in view
Where the industry goes from here
Join Global Psychedelic Week
Global Psychedelic Week is a week-long gathering of online and in-person events around the world. Last year it brought together 5,000 people from 100 countries, with 105 in-person events in a single week. This year's program includes keynotes, panels, and fireside conversations across four themed days, with Psychedelic Business Day on November 6 focusing on business, innovation, AI, and the future of the field.
Panel: Christian Angermayer keynote fireside with Milica Radovic Mandic, "Lessons from the Largest Deal in Psychedelics: AtaiBeckley's Path to Eli Lilly"
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Format: Online
Register: LINK
About Christian Angermayer
Christian Angermayer is a German entrepreneur and investor, and a co-founder of Atai, which merged with Beckley Psytech in 2025 to form AtaiBeckley. He is one of the most visible investors in psychedelic medicine.
About Milica Radovic Mandic
Milica Radovic Mandic is the Founder of Bizdelics and the organizer of Global Psychedelic Week. She is a digital marketing and brand strategist with more than ten years of experience across technology, wellness, and emerging therapies.
About Global Psychedelic Week
Global Psychedelic Week is an annual week-long gathering of online and in-person events that brings together researchers, clinicians, founders, practitioners, and community members from around the world. Learn more at globalpsychedelicweek.com.
Media contact
Milica Radovic Mandic
Founder, Bizdelics | Organizer, Global Psychedelic Week
milica@bizdelics.com
