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Gilead to Pay $1.275 Billion Cash for PepStar's Oral IL-23R Drug Program

Gilead will pay PepStar Therapeutics $1.275 billion in cash for an oral IL-23R program, with closing due in Q4 and an expected EPS hit of 79-83 cents.

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what happened

Gilead Sciences has reached a deal to purchase an experimental oral IL-23R inhibitor program from PepStar Therapeutics, a privately owned drug developer. The price is $1.275 billion, paid in cash, Dow Jones Newswires reports. The package includes worldwide rights and the lead candidate, HCXT-2001.

Gilead intends to develop the molecule either on its own or alongside its existing medicines, targeting inflammatory bowel disease. The transaction is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter, and the company estimates it will trim fourth-quarter earnings per share by 79 to 83 cents.

why it matters

For investors, the sum is modest relative to Gilead's size, but the projected quarterly earnings drag is the figure to watch. The move also signals continued investment in inflammation, an area where Gilead is working to broaden its pipeline beyond current products.

market impact

Gilead shares: the expected 79-83 cent quarterly EPS drag and deal costs weigh on fourth-quarter profit.

tags

MergerAcquisitionStockUnited States

instruments

GILDXLV

sources

  1. Gilead Acquires Oral IL-23R Inhibitor Program for $1.275B in Cash — Dow Jones Newswires, 22 October 2026 at 20:50 UTC
  2. Gilead acquires oral IL-23R inhibitor program from PepStar for ~$1.3B — Seeking Alpha, 22 October 2026 at 20:45 UTC
  3. Gilead Acquires Oral IL-23R Inhibitor Program for $1.275 Billion in Cash — Dow Jones Newswires, 22 October 2026 at 21:05 UTC

prepared by the newsmetry newsroom with ai assistance from the sources listed below. not investment advice.

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