In a major strategic move, the British pharmaceutical titan GSK has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the US-based biotech firm Rapt Therapeutics. The deal, valued at 2.2 billion US dollars (£1.6 billion), is centred on securing a promising new treatment for potentially life-threatening food allergies.
The Target: A Potential Best-in-Class Therapy
The cornerstone of the acquisition is an investigational drug called ozureprubart. This antibody, currently in phase two clinical trials, is being developed as a prophylactic treatment to protect patients from allergic reactions to food. GSK highlighted that current standard treatments often require burdensome injections every two to four weeks, a particular challenge given that most patients are children.
Ozureprubart offers a significant potential improvement, with dosing anticipated only once every 12 weeks. Furthermore, it could provide a crucial new option for an estimated quarter of patients who are not eligible for existing therapies.
Addressing a Major Unmet Medical Need
GSK's leadership framed the acquisition as a direct response to a serious and growing health issue with limited treatment options. Studies indicate that approximately 17 million people in the United States alone are diagnosed with food allergies, with over 1.3 million suffering severe reactions.
Tony Wood, GSK's Chief Scientific Officer, stated: "Food allergies cause severe health impacts to patients. Ozureprubart offers the opportunity to bring sustained protection with dosing every 12 weeks, and is consistent with our approach to acquire assets where there is clear unmet medical need."
Deal Structure and Timeline
Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will pay 58 US dollars (£43) per share to Rapt Therapeutics' shareholders. The California-based company specialises in creating novel therapies for inflammatory and immunologic diseases.
The transaction, which grants GSK global rights to the ozureprubart programme (excluding China), is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2026. This acquisition underscores GSK's ongoing commitment to bolstering its pipeline in immunology, a core therapeutic area for the London-listed firm.
