Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Acquisition expands AbbVie's psychiatry pipeline with the addition of a next-generation psychedelic compound currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' lead investigational candidate, bretisilocin. Bretisilocin is a novel, short-acting serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist an ...

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]

Group 1 - AbbVie has agreed to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' experimental antidepressant drug for up to $1.2 billion, focusing on the candidate drug bretisilocin for treating major depressive disorder [1][2] - The acquisition emphasizes AbbVie's commitment to expanding psychiatric care through investment in novel treatment methods, particularly for patients unresponsive to existing therapies [1] - Gilgamesh will spin off its other research projects into a new entity, Gilgamesh Pharma Inc., while maintaining the licensing option from their previous collaboration [2] Group 2 - There is growing support for psychedelic drugs in treating major depressive disorder, with over 20 million adults in the U.S. affected, and approximately 30% of them not responding to current treatments [2] - Gilgamesh is developing neuroplastogens, a new generation of psychedelic drugs that act quickly without causing hallucinations, with positive results reported for bretisilocin in major depressive disorder studies [2] - Historical caution from large pharmaceutical companies regarding psychedelic drugs due to regulatory concerns makes this transaction particularly significant [2]