GSK to Acquire RAPT Therapeutics for Allergy Drug Pipeline
GSK plc has entered an agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The acquisition includes ozureprubart, a potential drug for food allergy prevention with less frequent dosing.
GSK plc announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics, a California-based biopharmaceutical company focused on therapies for inflammatory and immunologic diseases.
The acquisition brings GSK the rights to ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody. This therapy is in Phase IIb clinical development for prophylactic protection against food allergens. IgE is a validated target and the only approved systemic therapy for allergic and inflammatory immune responses, with approximately 94% of severe food allergies being IgE-mediated.
Ozureprubart offers potential for less frequent dosing, every 12 weeks, compared to current anti-IgE treatments requiring injections every 2 to 4 weeks. This could improve patient compliance and outcomes, especially for children who are frequent sufferers of food allergies. The drug may also serve patients who are currently ineligible for existing therapies.
GSK will pay RAPT Therapeutics shareholders $58.00 per share in cash, representing an aggregate equity value of approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 and is anticipated to strengthen GSK's Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation pipeline.