(Updates shares, adds analysts' comment in paragraph 10, background in paragraphs 8 and 9) By Mariam Sunny Oct 24 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly said on Friday it would acquire gene therapy developer Adverum Biotechnologies in a deal valued at up to $261.7 million, aiming to strengthen its pipeline with an experimental eye disease treatment. The deal will give Lilly access to Adverum's candidate, Ixo-vec, marking the U.S. drugmaker's latest effort to tap the eye care market and underscoring its focus on gene therapies. Lilly has offered $3.56 for each share of Adverum held, totaling about $74.7 million in cash. Shareholders may also get up to $8.91 per share in milestone payments, contingent on U.S. approval of Ixo-vec within seven years and achieving more than $1 billion in annual global sales wit

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