Berlin Research Tech Powers $5B Gilead Deal
P5 conjugation technology as a molecular glue to construct antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs) against cancer - © Barth van Rossum
U.S. biopharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences has agreed to acquire Tubulis, a Munich-based company spun off from Berlin's Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and LMU Munich in 2019. The deal is worth up to $5 billion, making it one of the most significant biotech acquisitions of the year.
At the heart of the transaction is Tubulis' expertise in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a class of targeted cancer therapies that deliver potent active ingredients directly to tumor cells. According to the FMP's press release, a key enabler of this technology is the P5 conjugation platform, developed through foundational research by Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger and his team at the FMP in Berlin. This linker chemistry allows antibodies and drug payloads to be coupled with exceptional precision, making cancer treatment more targeted and effective.
Gilead will pay $3.15 billion upfront, plus up to $1.85 billion in milestone payments. The acquisition includes Tubulis' lead candidate TUB-040, currently in Phase 1b/2 clinical trials for ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, as well as TUB-030 and the broader ADC platform.
Tubulis will continue operating as an independent ADC research unit within Gilead, with Munich serving as a hub for future innovation.
The deal is a powerful reminder of how academic research in Berlin can translate into globally impactful medicine and major economic value.