Businesswire·2026-02-23 11:01Core Viewpoint - Gilead Sciences, Inc. has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Arcellx for an implied equity value of $7.8 billion, which includes $115 per share in cash and a contingent value right of $5 per share [1] Company Overview - Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative medicines for life-threatening diseases, including cancer, with a commitment to advancing public health [12] - Arcellx is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and other incurable diseases [11] Transaction Details - The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals [7] - Gilead currently owns approximately 11.5% of Arcellx's outstanding common stock [7] - The offer price represents a 68% premium to Arcellx's 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of February 20, 2026 [8] Product Pipeline - Gilead and Arcellx are collaborating on anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, which has shown deep and durable responses in clinical studies [2][3] - The Biologics License Application (BLA) for anito-cel has been accepted by the FDA, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date set for December 23, 2026 [4] Strategic Importance - Gilead's CEO emphasized the potential of anito-cel to become a foundational treatment for multiple myeloma and its importance in the company's oncology and inflammation efforts [5] - Arcellx's D-Domain CAR technology platform offers proprietary target-binding domains that could enhance future CAR T-cell and bispecific therapies [5] Financial Implications - The transaction is expected to be accretive to Gilead's earnings per share in 2028 and beyond, contingent upon FDA approval of anito-cel [9]