News Article

Listed American biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tubulis, a privately held German biotechnology company, for a total potential consideration of $5bn.

Under the terms of the deal, Gilead will provide an upfront cash payment of $3.15bn, with an additional $1.85bn tied to future contingent milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

The acquisition secures Tubulis’s proprietary antibody drug conjugate platforms, specifically the Tubutecan and Alco5 technologies, which are designed to enhance stability and reduce off-target toxicity.

Gilead’s primary interest lies in the lead clinical asset TUB-040, a topoisomerase-I inhibitor targeting NaPi2b. This candidate is currently in Phase 1b/2 development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Gilead also gains TUB-030, a 5T4-targeted conjugate currently being evaluated in solid tumours.

For investors, this move represents a significant expansion of Gilead’s oncology strategy and follows a two-year collaboration between the two firms. It continues a business development streak that includes recent multi-billion dollar deals for Arcellx and Ouro Medicines.

Operationally, Gilead plans to maintain the Munich-based site as a dedicated research organisation. This facility will serve as a central hub for innovation in the antibody drug conjugate space, leveraging the integrated discovery and manufacturing capabilities developed by the Tubulis team.