Gilead Sciences announced on May 1, 2026, the completion of its acquisition of Arcellx, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, for approximately $7.8 billion. The deal, first announced in December 2025, gives Gilead full control of Arcellx's lead candidate, anito-cel (formerly CART-ddBCMA), a CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead paid $61.50 per share in cash for all outstanding shares of Arcellx, representing a total equity value of about $7.8 billion. The transaction was approved by Arcellx shareholders in March 2026 and received regulatory clearance in April 2026.
Anito-cel is currently being evaluated in the Phase 2 iMMagine-1 trial for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The therapy targets BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) and uses a novel synthetic binding domain designed to improve durability and reduce toxicity compared to existing CAR-T therapies.
Gilead expects to report top-line data from the iMMagine-1 trial in the second half of 2026. The company plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2027, pending positive results.
The acquisition strengthens Gilead's oncology pipeline, adding a potentially best-in-class CAR-T therapy to its portfolio, which already includes the approved CAR-T cell therapy Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for certain types of lymphoma.
