On May 6, 2026 Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2026 and provided a business update.
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"Having joined the company just one year ago, I’m thrilled with our progress. I am looking forward to consummating our partnership with Gilead and adding Ouro Medicines’ talented team and its portfolio of programs to our Company, including the potential first and best in class T cell engager in autoimmune diseases, gamgertamig (OM336). We are excited that our Company is rebranding as Lakefront Biotherapeutics as this name reflects our Company’s strategic evolution," said Henry Gosebruch, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos.
Aaron Cox, Chief Financial Officer of Galapagos, added, "Following the anticipated use of cash to fund our collaboration with Gilead concerning its acquisition of Ouro Medicines, the Company will remain robustly capitalized and will have increased flexibility, including the ability to spend up to $500 million for business development independent of Gilead and not subject to our 2019 Option, License, and Collaboration Agreement with Gilead. This would also include the potential to use up to $150 million of that $500 million for share repurchases to the extent that we have available distributable reserves. In addition to the upfront consideration of $837.5 million, we anticipate additional 2026 Ouro-related cash expenditures to be in the range of €60-75 million, inclusive of R&D costs, one-time transaction costs and assuming a mid-year closing of the transaction."
First Quarter 2026 Business Update
On March 31, 2026, the Company announced that it has entered into a binding agreement (the "Framework Agreement") with Gilead Sciences, Inc. ("Gilead") (the "Transaction") in connection with Gilead’s definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of US-based Ouro Medicines, LLC ("Ouro"), a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing T cell engager therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Gamgertamig (OM336) is a clinical stage BCMAxCD3 T cell engager designed to enable rapid and deep plasma and B cell depletion following a short duration, subcutaneously administered treatment course. In ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical studies, gamgertamig has demonstrated transformative efficacy and a differentiated safety profile after a single treatment cycle in severe antibody-mediated orphan diseases, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
Gamgertamig has been granted both Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of AIHA and ITP and is expected to enter registrational studies as early as 2027.
BCMA-targeted T cell engagers are being investigated as a precision approach for severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by eliminating pathogenic B cells and plasma cells. By redirecting a patient’s own T cells toward BCMA-expressing plasma cells, clinical data suggest these agents can reduce inflammation, improve organ-level disease, and in some cases enable durable, drug-free remission without ongoing immunosuppression.
Update on Binding Agreement with Gilead
The Company expects the Transaction to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to the fulfillment of the closing conditions.
Galapagos expects to assume substantially all of Ouro’s operating assets and personnel (approximately 20 employees), such that the Company would obtain an operating business.
Galapagos and Gilead will equally split the upfront payment of $1.675 billion (~€1.425 billion1), subject to customary adjustments, and contingent milestone payments of up to $500 million (~€425 million1).
Galapagos and Gilead will collaborate on the development of gamgertamig, with Galapagos responsible for the development costs through initiation of registrational studies, after which the development costs will be shared equally. Galapagos is eligible for up to $100 million in development milestones payments for gamgertamig in certain other indications.
Galapagos will fund its share of payments owed to KeyMed Biosciences Chengdu Co., Ltd. ("KeyMed"), comprising 25% of the milestone payments and 50% of the royalty payments that become due to KeyMed with respect to gamgertamig products. Based on Ouro’s original transaction with Keymed, Keymed is entitled to total development and commercial milestones of up to $610 million and tiered royalties of 7%-14% of net sales for gamgertamig.
Gilead will retain sole worldwide commercialization rights, including all related costs, globally outside of Keymed’s territories, and Galapagos will receive tiered royalties of 20%–23% on net sales of gamgertamig from Gilead.
Galapagos will gain a preclinical portfolio of three additional autoimmune focused programs originally from Ouro, with an opt-in for Gilead for a 50/50 profit split post clinical proof-of-concept for $75 million (~€64 million1) per program.
The proposed arrangements will amend the existing collaboration terms with Gilead to designate $500 million (~€425 million1) of Galapagos’ cash available for R&D or strategic transactions outside of Gilead partnerships, including up to $150 million (~€128 million1) of this $500 million (~€425 million1) for potential return of capital, subject to certain limitations.
In addition to the upfront payment of $837.5 million (~€713 million1), the range of spending expected (including transaction expenses, operating expenses, milestones, and royalties) in 2026 is €60-€75 million.
Following this transaction, including estimated associated R&D spend until first approval, the Company will continue to have a majority of its current cash of approximately €3B remaining for additional strategic transactions and other capital allocation priorities.
CORPORATE
At the Company’s Annual and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 28, 2026 (the "AGM" and "EGM") all proposed resolutions were approved (see: press release of April 28, 2026), among other items:
the name change to Lakefront Biotherapeutics, with effect as of May 8, 2026. Our ticker on Euronext and NASDAQ (ADRs) will change to LKFT;
Gino Santini’s appointment as a member of our Board of Directors, and pursuant to a vote of our Board of Directors, Gino became the new Chair of our Board of Directors. Gino replaces Jérôme Contamine, whose four-year mandate as a member of the Board of Directors ended upon the conclusions of the AGM;
the authorization to acquire the Company’s own shares.
In April 2026, Coultreon Biopharma BV ("Coultreon"), previously named Onco3R Therapeutics BV, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $125 million Series A financing round. The financing will support the clinical development of Coultreon’s lead immunology program, COL-5671 (formerly O3R-5671), a highly selective SIK3 inhibitor in Phase 1, with potential to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept in 2027. COL-5671 was initially developed by Galapagos and ownership was fully transferred to Coultreon in April 2025, when Galapagos provided seed financing to the company with a convertible note investment that converted into equity ownership in Coultreon in connection with Series A financing.
IMMUNOLOGY SMALL MOLECULE PIPELINE
As part of our ongoing efforts to maximize the value of the GLPG3667 program for both patients and Galapagos, we are evaluating all strategic options. The GALACELA SLE study with GLPG3667 is currently ongoing, and the final Week 48 data are expected in the second quarter of 2026.
ONCOLOGY CAR-T CELL THERAPY UPDATE
The Company announced in January 2026 the start of the wind-down of its cell therapy activities. The wind-down remains on schedule and is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
The Company continues to expect 2026 one-time cash costs related to the wind-down to be in the range of €125 million to €175 million.
Financial Guidance
Galapagos currently estimates 2026 cash spend related to Ouro of approximately €775 million to €790 million, inclusive of the upfront payment, transaction costs, and operating costs assuming a mid-year transaction closing. The Company expects its year end 2026 cash and financial investments balance to be in the range of €1.975 billion to €2.050 billion, which reflects a reduction in prior guidance due to expected cash usage related to the Ouro investment and a corresponding reduction in interest income. Galapagos continues to expect one-time cash restructuring costs of €125 million to €175 million related to the ongoing wind-down of the cell therapy activities. All figures assume a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.175, consistent with year-end 2025. These estimates are subject to change and depend on the timing of closing, final transaction scope, integration activities, exchange rate fluctuations, and remaining cell therapy wind-down costs.
Financial Performance
Key figures for the first quarter of 2026 (consolidated)
(€ millions, except basic & diluted earnings/loss (-) per share)
March 31, 2026 March 31, 2025 % Change
Supply revenues 4.9 13.8 -64%
Collaboration revenues 1.6 61.2 -97%
Total net revenues 6.5 75.0 -91%
Cost of sales (4.8) (13.8) -65%
R&D expenses (31.0) (182.7) -83%
G&A1 and S&M2 expenses (35.5) (43.8) -19%
Other operating income 1.1 6.6 -83%
Operating loss (63.7) (158.7)
Fair value adjustments and net exchange differences 64.3 (9.4)
Net other financial result 13.4 11.8
Income taxes (0.1) 1.8
Net profit/loss (-) from continuing operations 13.9 (154.5)
Net profit from discontinued operations, net of tax 0.6 1.1
Net profit/loss (-) of the period 14.5 (153.4)
Basic and diluted earnings/loss (-) per share (€) 0.2 (2.3)
Financial investments, cash & cash equivalents 2,982.2 3,297.3
Details of the financial results for the first quarter of 2026
Total operating loss from continuing operations for the first three months of 2026 amounted to €63.7 million, compared to an operating loss of €158.7 million for the first three months of 2025. The operating loss in 2025 was negatively impacted by the executed strategic reorganization announced in January 2025, for €111.0 million. This was mainly reflected in severance costs of €47.5 million, costs for early termination of collaborations of €42.1 million and impairment on fixed assets related to small molecules activities of €10.2 million, professional services costs of €6.6 million and €4.2 million accelerated non-cash cost recognition for subscription right plans.
Total net revenues amounted to €6.5 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €75.0 million for the first three months of 2025. The revenue recognition related to the exclusive access rights granted to Gilead for Galapagos’ drug discovery platform amounted to €57.6 million for the first three months of 2025. The deferred income related to the drug discovery platform was fully released in revenue at the end of 2025.
Cost of sales amounted to €4.8 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €13.8 million for the first three months of 2025, and related to the supply of Jyseleca to Alfasigma under the transition agreement. The related revenues are reported in total net revenues.
R&D expenses amounted to €31.0 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €182.7 million for the first three months of 2025. In the first three months of 2025, the Company recorded increased personnel expenses (mainly related to severance costs), an impairment on fixed assets (related to small molecules programs) and a provision for early termination of collaboration agreements. On top, due to the wind-down of the cell therapy activities the spending in the CAR-T programs decreased in the first three months of 2026 as compared to the first three months of 2025.
S&M and G&A expenses amounted to €35.5 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €43.8 million for the first three months of 2025. This decrease was mainly due to lower personnel costs (primarily severance costs).
Other operating income amounted to €1.1 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €6.6 million for the first three months of 2025, mainly driven by lower grant and R&D incentives income.
Net financial income amounted to €77.7 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to net financial income of €2.4 million for the first three months of 2025.
Fair value adjustments and net currency exchange results amounted to a positive amount of €64.3 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to a negative amount of €9.4 million for the first three months of 2025, and were primarily attributable to €40.0 million of positive changes in fair value of financial investments and €23.8 million of unrealized currency exchange gains on our cash and cash equivalents and financial investments at amortized cost in U.S. dollars.
Net other financial income amounted to €13.4 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to net other financial income of €11.8 million for the first three months of 2025. Net interest income amounted to €12.9 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to €12.0 million of net interest income for the first three months of 2025. Fair value gains and interest income derived from cash, cash equivalents and financial investments excluding any currency exchange results amounted to €24.4 million for the first three months of 2026 (compared to €24.9 million for the same period last year).
The Company reported a net profit from continuing operations of €13.9 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to a net loss from its continuing operations of €154.5 million for the first three months of 2025.
Net profit from discontinued operations related to Jyseleca amounted to €0.6 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to net profit amounting to €1.1 million for the first three months of 2025.
Galapagos reported a net profit of €14.5 million for the first three months of 2026, compared to a net loss of €153.4 million for the first three months of 2025.
Cash position
Financial investments and cash and cash equivalents totaled €2,982.2 million on March 31, 2026, as compared to €2,998.0 million on December 31, 2025. The cash and cash equivalents and financial investments included $2,546.4 million held in U.S. dollars ($2,159.0 million on December 31, 2025) which could generate foreign exchange gains or losses in the financial results in accordance with the fluctuation of the EUR/U.S. dollar exchange rate as the Company’s functional currency is EUR (translated at a rate of 1.1498 €/$ at March 31, 2026).
Total net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and financial investments amounted to €15.8 million during the first three months of 2026, compared to a net decrease of €20.5 million during the first three months of 2025. This net decrease was composed of (i) €77.9 million of operational cash burn3, which includes cash in of €16.1 million related to the return on financial investments, (ii) €60.8 million of positive exchange rate differences, positive changes in fair value of current financial investments, variation in accrued interest income, (iii) €1.0 million acquisition of equity investments, and (iv) €2.3 million of net cash in related to the sale of subsidiaries.
Conference call and webcast presentation
Galapagos will host a conference call on May 7, 2026, at 14:00 CET / 08:00 AM ET. To participate, please register using this link. Dial-in details will be provided upon registration. Participants can join the call 10 minutes before the start time using the access information received by email or via the "call me" feature. The live call and presentation will be available on www.glpg.com or via the following link. A replay and related materials will be available shortly after the call in the investors section of the website.
(Press release, Galapagos, MAY 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234665187])