Gilead and Galapagos extend their collaboration

Gilead Sciences and Galapagos, collaborators on experimental JAK1 inhibitor filgotinib for rheumatoid arthritis, have agreed a $5.1bn deal made up of an upfront payment of $3.95bn, a $1.1bn equity investment to increase the former’s stake in the latter to 22%, and $1.1bn in opt-in payments for two late-stage drug candidates. Gilead also receives option rights on all of Galapagos’ other current and future clinical programmes outside of Europe. Gilead’s pipeline additions with this deal include GLPG1690, an oral, once-daily autotaxin inhibitor in phase 3 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and GLPG1972, an ADAMTS-5 blocker in phase 2b for osteoarthritis in the US.

Gilead’s chief executive officer, Daniel O’Day, said: “We chose to partner with Galapagos because of its pioneering target and drug discovery platform, proven scientific capabilities and outstanding team.”