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Gilead Sciences has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Germany-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Tubulis GmbH in a move that further strengthens its oncology pipeline and expands its capabilities in next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The transaction, valued at $3.15 billion in upfront cash consideration, with up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments, underscores Gilead’s continued strategic focus on oncology and targeted cancer therapies. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Tubulis, headquartered in Munich, has been developing next-generation ADCs designed to selectively deliver cancer-killing payloads directly to tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The acquisition brings two promising clinical-stage assets into Gilead’s portfolio, alongside Tubulis’ proprietary platform technologies.
Leading the pipeline is TUB-040, a NaPi2b-directed topoisomerase-I inhibitor ADC currently in Phase 1b/2 development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gilead will also acquire TUB-030, a 5T4-targeted ADC that has shown encouraging early clinical data across several solid tumor indications.
Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gilead Sciences, described the agreement as an important step forward for the company’s oncology ambitions.
“The agreement to acquire Tubulis is a significant milestone in Gilead’s progress in oncology. The company brings a clinical-stage candidate that is a potential new treatment for ovarian cancer, as well as a next-generation ADC platform and a promising early pipeline.”
He added that the acquisition builds on an existing two-year collaboration between the companies, which has strengthened Gilead’s confidence in Tubulis’ research capabilities and long-term potential.
For Tubulis, the deal marks a major milestone in advancing its technology toward global patient impact. Dominik Schumacher, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Tubulis, said joining Gilead will provide the scale and scientific depth needed to accelerate development.
“Joining Gilead allows us to build on this foundation within an organization that brings deep scientific expertise, global development capabilities, and the scale needed to translate innovation into medicines for patients worldwide.”
Following completion of the transaction, Tubulis will continue operating as a dedicated ADC research organization within Gilead, with its Munich site serving as a central hub for ADC innovation. The facility will continue leveraging its integrated discovery, manufacturing and clinical capabilities to advance next-generation cancer therapeutics.
The acquisition reflects the growing importance of ADCs in oncology, a class of therapies increasingly viewed as a highly targeted approach to treating difficult-to-treat cancers. For Gilead, the move further diversifies its oncology pipeline as the company continues to invest in therapies addressing areas of high unmet need.
With operations in more than 35 countries, Gilead continues to expand its footprint in both established and emerging therapeutic areas, building on more than three decades of innovation in life sciences and medicine.
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