GSK to Acquire RAPT for $2.2 Billion, Securing Quarterly-Dosed Anti-IgE Drug
GSK will pay $2.2 billion ($58 per share) to acquire RAPT Therapeutics and its anti-IgE drug ozureprubart in phase 2b trials for peanut, milk and egg allergies. Trial data are due next year, with phase 3 studies in H2 2027 and a 2031 launch targeting >$1 billion annual sales.
1. GSK Agrees to Acquire RAPT Therapeutics for $2.2 Billion
GSK has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.2 billion. Under the terms of the deal, RAPT shareholders will receive $58.00 per share, representing a 63% premium to the company’s closing price prior to announcement. Closing is expected in the second quarter, subject to approval by RAPT shareholders and customary regulatory clearances. The acquisition grants GSK worldwide rights to ozureprubart, excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
2. Ozu (ozureprubart) Bolsters Respiratory & Immunology Portfolio
Ozureprubart is a long-acting anti-IgE monoclonal antibody in mid-stage clinical trials for protection against severe food allergies to peanut, milk, egg, cashew and walnut. The Phase 2b study in adults and adolescents is scheduled to report data next year, and pivotal Phase 3 trials will commence in the second half of 2027 with both pediatric and adult populations. If successful, GSK plans to launch Ozu in 2031, targeting annual sales exceeding $1 billion and contributing toward its 2031 revenue goal of £40 billion.
3. Strategic and Financial Implications for Investors
This marks the first major acquisition under CEO Luke Miels, who aims to diversify GSK’s growth beyond respiratory and HIV therapies. Analysts estimate the upfront cash outlay represents approximately 5% of GSK’s current market capitalization. Ozu’s quarterly dosing could capture the 25% of food-allergic patients ineligible for bi-weekly injections, in a market of over 17 million diagnosed individuals in the US and 2.4 million adults in the UK. GSK expects the deal to be modestly accretive to core earnings per share by 2028.
4. Ongoing Commitment to Lupus Care Through Grant Initiative
In parallel with its pipeline expansion, GSK has awarded nearly $1 million through the Linked by Lupus: Optimal Care Initiative. Grants were distributed to 14 national, state and local non-profit organizations focused on systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. Priority areas include early diagnosis programs, patient education campaigns and provider training, reflecting GSK’s broader commitment to improving outcomes in immunology beyond commercial development.