Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) announced on April 7, 2026, that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tubulis GmbH, a private German biotechnology company specializing in next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The transaction includes an upfront cash payment of $3.15 billion, with Tubulis shareholders eligible for an additional $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments, bringing the total potential deal value to $5 billion.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
The deal significantly bolsters Gilead’s oncology portfolio by adding Tubulis’ proprietary platforms and clinical-stage assets.
The lead candidate, TUB-040, is a NaPi2b-directed topoisomerase-I inhibitor currently in Phase 1b/2 development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Gilead also gains TUB-030, a 5T4-targeted ADC that has shown promising initial data across various solid tumors.
The acquisition follows a successful two-year research collaboration between the two companies.
Tubulis’ technology is designed to improve the stability and selectivity of ADCs, allowing for the delivery of diverse payloads directly to tumor cells while minimizing off-target toxicity—a historical challenge in the field of targeted chemotherapy.
Upon completion of the merger, Tubulis will operate as a dedicated ADC research organization within Gilead.
Its headquarters in Munich will serve as a global hub for ADC innovation, leveraging its integrated discovery and manufacturing capabilities.