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

> Gilead Sciences agreed to buy Shanghai-based PepStar Therapeutics' experimental oral drug program for $1.275 billion in cash, gaining worldwide rights.

- Published: 2026-10-24T00:35:53+00:00
- Section: Mergers & Acquisitions
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-24/gilead-pepstar-oral-drug-program-acquisition
- Source: [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/news/stocktwits:0329fd15d094b:0-stocktwits-biotech-dealmaker-gilead-and-roche-double-down-on-early-stage-assets-over-full-buyouts-this-week/)

## Key takeaways

- Gilead Sciences agreed on Thursday to buy PepStar Therapeutics' experimental oral drug program for inflammatory diseases for $1.275 billion in cash.
- The deal includes lead candidate HCXT-2001 and is expected to close in the fourth quarter, giving Gilead worldwide rights.
- Gilead sees potential to develop the early-stage asset alone or with its own oral drug emvistegrast as an all-oral approach for inflammatory bowel disease.

[Gilead Sciences](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00002y8/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](https://www.tradingview.com/news/stocktwits:0329fd15d094b:0-stocktwits-biotech-dealmaker-gilead-and-roche-double-down-on-early-stage-assets-over-full-buyouts-this-week/) 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](https://akta.pro/company-data). 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.

## Companies in this story

- [Gilead Sciences company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00002y8/gilead-sciences) · website: http://www.gilead.com
- [Merck company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00009dg/merck) · website: https://www.merckgroup.com
- [Silence Therapeutics company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003gre/silence-therapeutics) · website: http://www.silence-therapeutics.com

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