Gilead strikes $1.3B upfront China deal for oral IL-23 drug

Gilead acquires PepStar inflammation drug program for $1.28 billion

Gilead Sciences will acquire PepStar Therapeutics' oral inflammation drug program, including an experimental IL-23 receptor inhibitor for inflammatory bowel disease, for $1.28 billion upfront in a deal that could compete with Johnson & Johnson's new immunology pill.