Gilead Sciences to Buy PepStar's Oral Inflammatory Drug Program for $1.275 Billion in Cash

Gilead Sciences agreed on Thursday to buy Shanghai-based PepStar Therapeutics' experimental oral drug program for inflammatory diseases, including lead candidate HCXT-2001, for $1.275 billion in cash. TradingView reported the agreement, which gives Gilead worldwide rights and is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

Gilead's $1.275 Billion PepStar Program Deal

Gilead Sciences is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes more than 25 medicines across virology, oncology and inflammation therapeutic areas, according to company records. PepStar Therapeutics is a Shanghai-based company whose experimental oral drug program targets inflammatory diseases.

The deal covers HCXT-2001, an early-stage asset Gilead sees potential to develop alone or in combination with its own oral drug emvistegrast as an all-oral approach for inflammatory bowel disease. The purchase follows a mid-October collaboration deal with Vir Biotechnology and forms part of Gilead's efforts to expand its inflammation portfolio beyond its core HIV business.

Hansoh Pharma, the China-based pharmaceutical company that expanded its antibody-drug conjugate partnership with Roche in the same week, entered that partnership and licensing deal worth over $15 billion covering antibody-drug conjugate programs, receiving an upfront $400 million and a first anniversary payment of $110 million, EIN Presswire reported.

Gilead's Recent Pipeline and Regulatory Moves

Gilead's recent company records include a June 2026 regulatory action in which the FDA approved Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) for first-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda, expanding the oncology franchise into the PD-L1+ front-line setting, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show a June 2026 product launch in which Gilead initiated a lenacapavir-based HIV PrEP rollout in South Africa and received FDA sNDA acceptance for Yeztugo (oral lenacapavir) with a PDUFA date of February 2, 2027.

Gilead's October Trial and Settlement News

Gilead reported on October 19, 2026, that its experimental once-daily pill emvistegrast reduced symptoms of ulcerative colitis in more patients than placebo in a mid-stage trial, Yahoo reported. On October 22, 2026, Gilead agreed to settle Texas False Claims Act litigation over its patient support programs, a settlement requiring a payment, dismissal with prejudice, and release of all claims by Texas and Health Choice Advocates, The future of trading reported.

Gilead's Fourth-Quarter Closing and Earnings Date

Gilead expects the PepStar transaction to close in the fourth quarter. The company will release its third-quarter 2026 financial results and guidance after market close on October 29, 2026, with management hosting a webcast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Stock Titan reported.