Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of Tubulis GmbH, a private Germany-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The acquisition brings Gilead next-generation ADC assets and a platform designed to maximize patient benefit through more selective delivery of diverse payloads to tumors. Tubulis’ technologies enable the development of unique ADCs with superior biophysical properties, capable of achieving robust on-tumor payload exposure that can translate to long-lasting anti-tumor activity. The addition of Tubulis’ lead asset, TUB-040, a NaPi2b-directed topoisomerase-I inhibitor (TOPO1i) ADC, which has demonstrated promising activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and TUB-030, a 5T4-directed ADC that is being investigated across various solid tumor types, complements Gilead’s existing ADC portfolio.
“We look forward to welcoming the Tubulis team to Gilead and building on the significant progress they have made in advancing novel ADC technology for people living with cancer,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “Our two-year collaboration with Tubulis gave us strong conviction in their team, their programs and their technologies. We will now combine our strengths in service of providing new options for some of the most challenging forms of disease.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead acquired all the outstanding equity of Tubulis for $3.15 billion in upfront considerations on a cash-free, debt-free basis, and up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments. The Tubulis team will continue to be based in Munich, Germany, establishing The Tubulis ADC Innovation Center. This new Center will be a hub for the team to continue building on its integrated discovery, manufacturing and clinical capabilities to advance next generation ADCs.