Gilead Sciences to Acquire Oral IL-23R Inhibitor Program for $1.275 Billion

Gilead Sciences has agreed to acquire an oral IL-23R inhibitor program from PepStar Therapeutics for $1.275 billion in cash, gaining worldwide rights to the program, including the lead asset HCXT-2001. This asset is intended for development as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. The acquisition is expected to close in Q4 2026 and may reduce Gilead's earnings-per-share by 79 to 83 cents in that quarter.