Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its cell therapy subsidiary Kite have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cell Design Labs, Inc., gaining new technology platforms that will enhance research and development efforts in cellular therapy.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Cell Design Labs, which includes the approximately 12.2 percent of shares of Cell Design Labs that are currently held by Kite, for up to approximately $567 million.
The agreement includes an initial upfront payment of approximately $175 million, subject to certain adjustments, and additional payments of up to $322 million that will be paid to the shareholders of Cell Design Labs other than Kite upon the occurrence of certain events, including the achievement of development and approval milestones. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close shortly.
The transaction will build on Gilead’s recent acquisition of Kite Pharma, Inc. and has the potential to help the Gilead and Kite organizations accelerate the development of next generation cellular therapy candidates.
Cell Design Labs is a pre-clinical stage company with significant expertise in custom cell engineering. The company is developing two propriety technology platforms: synNotch, a synthetic gene expression system that responds to external cues which, among other applications, can be deployed to engineer chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cells that require dual antigen recognition for activation, and Throttle, an “on switch” that modulates CAR T activity using small molecules.
The addition of these technologies to existing Kite research and development programs could lead to the treatment of a broader range of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, and potentially offer improved selectivity and safety of future treatments, according to Gilead. Additionally, Cell Design Labs is developing several pre-clinical product candidates, including therapies for prostate cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma that use the synNotch technology. The company’s lead pre-clinical candidate targets multiple myeloma.
“This acquisition demonstrates our deep commitment to continuing to invest in future innovation in the field of cellular therapy, both internally and externally,” John F. Milligan, Ph.D., Gilead’s president and chief executive officer, said.
Cell Design Labs’ investors, led by Kleiner Perkins, also included: Kite; Osage Ventures; Mission Bay Ventures; Brian Atwood, president, chief executive officer and co-founder of Cell Design Labs; Kite founder and member of the Cell Design Labs board of directors, Arie Belldegrun, M.D.; and other investors with experience in biopharmaceuticals.
Citi acted as financial advisor to the Cell Design Labs in connection with the transaction.
(Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.)
Filed Under: Drug Discovery