US biotech company Gilead Sciences said it would acquire Ouro Medicines, a privately held firm specialising in the development of antibody drugs for autoimmune diseases, for as much as $2.18 billion. The deal would provide Gilead access to Ouro’s lead candidate—gamgertamig, an antibody drug known as OM336—which received “Fast Track” designation from the FDA in January, Bloomberg reported.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will pay $1.68 billion in cash up front, plus as much as $500 million more in milestone payments contingent on meeting certain goals.
Ouro’s drug is currently in early‑stage clinical trials for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia and other autoimmune conditions.
To help develop the Ouro drugs, Gilead said it was in advanced discussions with the biotech company Galapagos to form an R&D collaboration. Under this arrangement, Galapagos would pay half the upfront consideration and half of the future milestone payments, and would absorb substantially all of Ouro’s assets and retain its employees.
Gilead, in turn, would keep worldwide commercial rights to Ouro’s experimental drugs, except for in China, and would pay Galapagos royalties on net sales of the drugs. Gilead currently owns a roughly 25% stake in Galapagos.
Gilead, known for its HIV drugs, has been seeking avenues for growth beyond its core areas amid looming patent expiries and declining sales of its COVID‑19 treatment Veklury. The acquisition of Ouro Medicines marks Gilead’s second major deal this year. In February, the company announced the purchase of cancer‑focused biotech firm Arcellx for as much as $7.8 billion.
Ouro Medicines was founded in 2025 and is based in San Francisco. The company is focused on developing treatments for chronic immune‑mediated diseases.
