Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) announced today, April 19, 2026, the formal closing of its acquisition of Arcellx, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $7.8 billion. Concurrently, the California-based biopharmaceutical giant confirmed it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Tubulis GmbH, a privately held biotechnology firm specializing in next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These strategic moves are designed to consolidate Gilead’s leadership in the oncology sector, specifically within cell therapy and targeted cancer treatments.
The completion of the Arcellx merger follows a multi-year collaboration between Gilead’s Kite unit and Arcellx on the development of anito-cel, a late-stage autologous CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Under the terms of the final agreement, Gilead acquired all outstanding shares of Arcellx for $105.00 per share in cash. This transaction integrates Arcellx’s proprietary D-Domain technology into Kite’s existing manufacturing and commercial infrastructure. Daniel O’Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, stated that the integration of the Arcellx platform allows the company to accelerate the delivery of potentially best-in-class cell therapies to patients with hematological malignancies.
In addition to the Arcellx closing, Gilead’s acquisition of Tubulis GmbH marks a significant expansion into the ADC space. While the specific financial terms of the Tubulis deal were not fully disclosed, Gilead confirmed an upfront payment of $950 million with additional milestone-based payments that could bring the total deal value to $1.7 billion. Tubulis, headquartered in Munich, Germany, provides Gilead with proprietary P5 conjugation and Tubutecan platforms. These technologies are intended to improve the stability and efficacy of ADCs, reducing off-target toxicities compared to traditional chemotherapy.
Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President of Kite, noted that the acquisition of Arcellx provides the scale necessary to optimize the global launch of anito-cel. Regarding the Tubulis acquisition, Gilead’s Chief Medical Officer, Merdad Parsey, emphasized that the addition of Tubulis’s ADC platform complements Gilead’s existing Trodelvy franchise. The company expects the Tubulis transaction to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Gilead reported that these acquisitions will be financed through a combination of existing cash on hand and the issuance of new debt. The company reiterated its commitment to maintaining its dividend policy while prioritizing research and development in oncology, which now accounts for approximately 40% of its total clinical pipeline. The Arcellx integration is expected to be dilutive to Gilead’s non-GAAP earnings per share in 2026 by approximately $0.15 to $0.20, with accretion expected to begin in 2028 following the anticipated commercial launch of anito-cel.