BY Fraser Tennant
In the UK drugmaker’s latest move to bolster its pipeline, GSK is to acquire US biotech RAPT Therapeutics (RAPT) in a transaction valued at $2.2bn.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, GSK will pay RAPT Therapeutics shareholders $58 per share in cash within 10 business days of signing. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.
A California-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunologic diseases, RAPT focuses on discovering, developing and commercialising novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunologic diseases.
The deal to acquit RAPT includes ozureprubart, a potentially best-in-class anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) anti-IgE antibody, in development for prophylactic protection against food allergens. Around 94 percent of severe food allergies are caused by IgE-mediated reactions.
In the US, over 17 million people are diagnosed with food allergies, with more than 1.3 million people suffering severe reactions. Moreover, 65 percent of severe food allergy patients are children and adolescents, resulting in more than 3 million patient visits each year to hospital and emergency care.
The transaction gives GSK the global rights to the ozureprubart programme, excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
“The addition of ozureprubart brings another promising new, potential best-in-class treatment to GSK’s pipeline,” said Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK. Food allergies cause severe health impacts to patients with existing treatment requiring injections as frequently as every two weeks. Ozureprubart offers the opportunity to bring sustained protection to patients with dosing every 12 weeks, and is consistent with our approach to acquire assets that address validated targets and where there is clear unmet medical need.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of a majority of RAPT’s outstanding shares of common stock in the tender offer and expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the US.
Brian Wong, president and chief executive of RAPT, concluded: This transaction has the potential to provide access to the global development and commercialisation capabilities, resources and infrastructure that GSK has to offer and ultimately bring added value to our pipeline, patients and stockholders.”
News: GSK makes $2.2 billion swoop for RAPT Therapeutics' food allergy drug