Gilead to Acquire Arcellx, Inc. (ACLX) for Up to $7.8 billion

On February 23, 2026, CNBC reported that Gilead Sciences announced it would acquire Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLX) for up to $7.8 billion to expand its cancer treatment pipeline. The corporation agreed to pay $115 per share in cash, a 79% premium over Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLX)’s last closing price. Its stock jumped 77.9% to $114.06 in morning trading. The deal is Gilead's largest since its acquisition of Immunomedics for $21 billion in 2020. Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O'Day has explored acquisitions and partnerships as the firm aims to expand beyond HIV and liver disease therapies, notwithstanding declining revenues from its flagship COVID-19 medicine, Veklury, and potential patent losses.

The acquisition boosts Gilead's position in cell therapy with anito-cel, an investigational CAR-T treatment for multiple myeloma developed by Kite Pharma and Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLX). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering the therapy as a fourth-line treatment, with a decision set for December 23, 2026. According to Brian Abrahams of RBC Capital Markets, the treatment may have a better safety profile than Carvykti, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech. Gilead anticipates the transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2026.

Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology business that develops new immunotherapies for cancer and other incurable diseases.

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