Tubules purchased from American pharmaceutical giant

The sale of Tubulis is one of the biggest exits in the German biotech scene. The Munich-based company with Unicorn status The company is selling its assets to the US pharmaceutical giant Gilead for up to €4.3 billion ($5 billion). €2.7 billion ($3.15 billion) will be paid directly, while a further €1.6 billion ($1.85 billion) is contingent on achieving certain milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

tubules develop Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a modern form of cancer therapy. These therapies target tumor cells more precisely than traditional chemotherapies. The company combines antibodies and cytotoxic agents to create particularly stable drugs. Among its most important projects is TUB-040, which is currently in clinical development for ovarian and lung cancer. TUB-030 is also showing promising initial data in various solid tumors.

Strategic expansion of oncology

With this acquisition, Gilead is strategically expanding its expertise in the field of oncology. Tubulis' technologies and programs complement the company's existing pipeline. At the same time, the American company gains access to a platform designed to deliver various drugs precisely to tumors.

“The agreement to acquire Tubulis is a significant milestone for Gilead in the field of oncology. The company brings with it a clinical-stage candidate representing a potential new therapy for ovarian cancer, as well as a next-generation ADC platform and a promising early-stage pipeline. Today’s agreement follows a two-year collaboration with Tubulis, which has impressed us with their programs and research capabilities. Integrating this potential into Gilead would further enhance what is already the strongest and most diverse pipeline in our company’s history.”

explained Daniel O'Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences.

Signal effect for the Munich location

Following the completion of the project, Tubulis will remain an independent research unit within Gilead. Munich will thus further develop as a central innovation hub for ADC technologies. The company will leverage its integrated expertise in research, manufacturing, and clinical development to advance new therapies.

“From the outset, we were convinced that our conjugation technology platforms could have a far-reaching impact on the entire ADC field, and the initial data from TUB-040 have reinforced this conviction. Joining forces with Gilead allows us to build on this foundation within a company that possesses deep scientific expertise, global development capabilities, and the scale necessary to translate innovations into medicines for patients worldwide. Through our existing collaboration, Gilead has already recognized the potential of our technologies, and together we are well-positioned to accelerate the development of our ADC pipeline. I am deeply grateful to the Tubulis team, our board, our investors, and partners for their dedication and for helping to make this milestone possible.”

says Dominik Schumacher, CEO and co-founder of Tubulis.