Key facts
- Gilead Sciences will acquire PepStar Therapeutics' oral inflammation drug program.
- The deal is valued at $1.275 billion in cash.
- The program includes an experimental treatment for bowel disease.
Gilead Sciences announced on Thursday that it will acquire PepStar Therapeutics' oral inflammation drug program for $1.275 billion in cash. The acquisition includes an experimental treatment for bowel disease. This move signifies Gilead's strategic expansion into the inflammation sector, moving beyond its traditional focus on infectious diseases. Flavius Martin, Gilead's executive vice president of research, stated the company's commitment to developing next-generation therapies for inflammatory diseases. The deal with PepStar is separate from a previously announced $1.7 billion partnership with Leo Pharma concerning STAT6 pathway inhibitors.