On May 21, 2026 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of Tubulis GmbH, a private Germany-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

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The acquisition brings Gilead next-generation ADC assets and a platform designed to maximize patient benefit through more selective delivery of diverse payloads to tumors. Tubulis’ technologies enable the development of unique ADCs with superior biophysical properties, capable of achieving robust on-tumor payload exposure that can translate to long-lasting anti-tumor activity. The addition of Tubulis’ lead asset, TUB-040, a NaPi2b-directed topoisomerase-I inhibitor (TOPO1i) ADC, which has demonstrated promising activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and TUB-030, a 5T4-directed ADC that is being investigated across various solid tumor types, complements Gilead’s existing ADC portfolio.

"We look forward to welcoming the Tubulis team to Gilead and building on the significant progress they have made in advancing novel ADC technology for people living with cancer," said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. "Our two-year collaboration with Tubulis gave us strong conviction in their team, their programs and their technologies. We will now combine our strengths in service of providing new options for some of the most challenging forms of disease."

Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead acquired all the outstanding equity of Tubulis for $3.15 billion in upfront considerations on a cash-free, debt-free basis, and up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments. The Tubulis team will continue to be based in Munich, Germany, establishing The Tubulis ADC Innovation Center. This new Center will be a hub for the team to continue building on its integrated discovery, manufacturing and clinical capabilities to advance next generation ADCs.

About TUB-040 and the Tubutecan Technology

TUB-040 is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets NaPi2b, a protein expressed at high levels in several tumor types, including ovarian, lung, and endometrial cancer. TUB-040 utilizes the Tubutecan technology engineered to have eight chemotherapy payloads (topoisomerase-I inhibitor) attached to a stable, cleavable linker system that allows for potent tumor cell killing. This design allows TUB-040 to deliver the drug directly to cancer cells while limiting exposure to healthy tissue, improving the tolerability of the ADC compared to earlier ADC technologies. In early clinical studies, TUB-040 has shown encouraging anti-tumor activity with a manageable safety profile in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, as reported at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2025. It is currently being evaluated in an ongoing multicenter Phase I/IIa study in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and relapsed or refractory non-small cell lung cancer.

(Press release, Gilead Sciences, MAY 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234665948])