Three patterns run through Gilead Sciences's acquisitions — what it looks for, how it pays, and how it folds in what it buys.
01
Acquisition criteria
Buying its way into new therapeutic franchises: HCV cure (Pharmasset), cell ther...
Buying its way into new therapeutic franchises: HCV cure (Pharmasset), cell therapy/CAR T (Kite, Cell Design Labs), oncology (Forty Seven, Immunomedics), and liver disease/HDV (MYR, CymaBay).
Complementing marquee mega-deals with smaller, targeted bolt-on and platform acq...
Complementing marquee mega-deals with smaller, targeted bolt-on and platform acquisitions (Cell Design Labs, MiroBio) and cross-border deals for specific approved assets (MYR's Hepcludex).
8 acquisitions — each with the deal value, financing structure, target revenue, and executive commentary where disclosed.
01Pharmasset, Inc.$11.05B
Announced Jan 2012•Closed Jan 2012
Acquired the hepatitis C drug developer to obtain sofosbuvir (later Sovaldi/Harvoni), transforming Gilead into the leader in HCV cure therapy. Purchased via a $137.00-per-share cash tender offer and merger.
02Kite Pharma, Inc.$11.9B
Announced Aug 2017•Closed Aug 2017
Acquired the CAR T-cell therapy pioneer for $180.00 per share in cash, immediately positioning Gilead as a leader in cell therapy and adding lead CAR T candidate axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta).
Gilead Sciences to acquire Kite Pharma for $11.9 billion, immediately positioning Gilead as a leader in cell therapy.
03Cell Design Labs, Inc.$150M
Disclosed in 8-K
Acquired the remaining stock of Cell Design Labs (beyond the ~12.2% obtained via Kite) to gain new cell-engineering technology platforms enhancing Gilead's cellular-therapy R&D. Cash consideration of $150 million net of acquired cash, accounted for as an asset acquisition. $150 million cash (plus up to $322 million contingent milestones).
04Forty Seven, Inc.$4.9B
Announced Mar 2020•Closed Mar 2020
Acquired the immuno-oncology company for $95.50 per share in cash to strengthen Gilead's oncology pipeline, gaining lead anti-CD47 antibody magrolimab in development for myelodysplastic syndrome, AML and DLBCL.
05Immunomedics, Inc.$21B
Announced Oct 2020•Closed Oct 2020
Acquired the maker of Trodelvy, a first-in-class Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugate approved for triple-negative breast cancer, for $88.00 per share in cash, transforming Gilead's oncology portfolio with a commercial-stage product.
06MYR GmbH$1.3B
Announced Mar 2021•Closed Mar 2021
Acquired the German biotechnology company for its chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) treatment Hepcludex (bulevirtide), conditionally approved by the EMA. Aggregate consideration of EUR 1.3 billion (~$1.6 billion), including ~EUR 1.0 billion (~$1.2 billion) paid on closing plus contingent consideration. ~EUR 1.3 billion (~$1.6 billion).
07MiroBio Ltd.$414M
Announced Sep 2022•Closed Sep 2022
Acquired the privately-held U.K. biotechnology company focused on restoring immune balance with agonists targeting immune inhibitory receptors, for $414 million in cash. Accounted for as an asset acquisition. $414 million cash.
08CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc.$4.3B
Announced Feb 2024•Closed Feb 2024
Acquired the liver-disease specialist for $32.50 per share in cash (total equity value ~$4.3 billion) to add seladelpar, a PPAR-delta agonist for primary biliary cholangitis under FDA priority review, expanding Gilead's liver portfolio.
We are looking forward to advancing seladelpar by leveraging Gilead's long-standing expertise in treating and curing liver diseases. -- Daniel O'Day, Chairman and CEO, Gilead Sciences