Core Insights - AbbVie has announced a deal to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' lead pipeline candidate, bretisilocin, which is being developed for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) [1][8] Group 1: Deal Details - AbbVie will pay up to $1.2 billion for the acquisition, which includes an upfront payment and development milestones [6][8] - Gilgamesh will spin off its other drug programs into a new company, Gilgamesh Pharma, while AbbVie retains full control of bretisilocin [6][7] Group 2: Clinical Data - Bretisilocin is currently in a phase II study for moderate-to-severe MDD, showing rapid and durable antidepressant effects [2][8] - In the phase II study, bretisilocin led to a statistically significant reduction in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score, with patients improving by an average of 21.6 points compared to 12.1 points for the comparator at Day 14 [2] Group 3: Market Context - AbbVie has been actively acquiring companies to strengthen its early-stage neuroscience pipeline, with recent deals including the acquisition of Aliada and Cerevel Therapeutics [9][10] - AbbVie's neuroscience portfolio has seen significant growth, with sales increasing by 20.3% to around $5 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by products like Botox Therapeutic and Vraylar [11]