GSK To Acquire RAPT Therapeutics To Expand Food Allergy Pipeline, Strengthens Allergy Portfolio

GSK announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics, a U.S.-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammatory and immunologic diseases. The acquisition strengthens GSK’s allergy and immunology pipeline by adding ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-IgE monoclonal antibody currently in Phase IIb development for the prevention of food allergy reactions.

IgE is a well-established therapeutic target and is responsible for the majority of severe food allergy reactions. While existing anti-IgE therapies have demonstrated clinical benefit, they require injections every two to four weeks, creating a significant treatment burden, especially for pediatric patients. Ozureprubart can be administered every 12 weeks, which may improve adherence and broaden access for patients who are currently not eligible for available therapies.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: “The addition of ozureprubart brings another promising new, potential best-in-class treatment to GSK’s pipeline. Food allergies cause severe health impacts to patients with existing treatment requiring injections as frequently as every 2 weeks. Ozureprubart offers the opportunity to bring sustained protection to patients with dosing every 12 weeks, and is consistent with our approach to acquire assets that address validated targets and where there is clear unmet medical need.”

Phase IIb monotherapy data from the prestIgE study are expected in 2027, with Phase III trials planned in both adult and pediatric populations at risk of severe allergic reactions. In the United States alone, more than 17 million people live with food allergies, over one million of whom experience severe reactions that result in millions of hospital and emergency department visits annually, highlighting a substantial unmet medical need.

Brian Wong, President & Chief Executive Officer, RAPT Therapeutics, said: “We are excited to enter into this agreement with GSK, which offers an attractive path forward for our programs, particularly the opportunity we envision for ozureprubart in food allergy. This transaction has the potential to provide access to the global development and commercialisation capabilities, resources and infrastructure that GSK has to offer and ultimately bring added value to our pipeline, patients and stockholders.”

Under the agreement, GSK will acquire RAPT for $58.00 per share in cash, representing an equity value of approximately $2.2 billion and an upfront investment of $1.9 billion net of cash. GSK will obtain global rights to ozureprubart outside Greater China and will assume milestone and royalty obligations to RAPT’s partner. The transaction, structured as a tender offer followed by a merger, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals.