Gilead Sciences has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Arcellx in a deal valued at $7.8 billion. Under the terms, Gilead will pay $115 per share, plus a $5 contingent value right (CVR) if global sales of the lead candidate reach $6 billion by the end of 2029. The transaction is slated to close in the second quarter of 2026.
The center of this acquisition is anito-cel, a promising CAR T-cell therapy currently under FDA review for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. With a PDUFA action date set for December 23, 2026, anito-cel is envisioned as a foundational treatment that could eventually move into earlier lines of therapy. Furthermore, Arcellx’s technology is expected to bolster Gilead’s position in the emerging field of in vivo cell therapy—a trend that has dominated recent high-profile M&A activity by Eli Lilly, BMS, and AbbVie.
This milestone reflects Gilead’s strategic shift toward diversifying its portfolio beyond its HIV stronghold and underscores its commitment to next-generation CAR-T technologies to address unmet needs in oncology and inflammatory diseases.