GSK to Purchase RAPT for $2.2 Billion to Strengthen Food Allergy Therapies

GSK to Acquire RAPT Therapeutics in $2.2 Billion Deal

GSK has announced plans to purchase RAPT Therapeutics, a California-based biopharmaceutical firm, for approximately $2.2 billion. This acquisition is intended to enhance GSK’s portfolio in the areas of respiratory health, immunology, and inflammation.

Under the agreement, GSK will pay RAPT shareholders $58 per share, with an initial cash payment of $1.9 billion. The transaction is anticipated to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026, valuing RAPT at about $2.2 billion in total equity.

One of the key assets GSK will gain is ozureprubart, an experimental antibody therapy aimed at treating food allergies. Results from ongoing clinical trials for this drug are expected in 2027.

Tony Wood, GSK’s Chief Scientific Officer, commented that adding ozureprubart to the company’s pipeline introduces another highly promising candidate that could become a leading treatment in its class.

Although there may be challenges ahead in both completing the acquisition and bringing the new therapy to market, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, noted that this type of strategic risk is precisely what large pharmaceutical companies like GSK should pursue.

Mould also highlighted the potential financial rewards if GSK can develop a more convenient therapy for food allergies. According to the Food Standards Agency, about 6% of adults in the UK—roughly 2.4 million people—are affected by food allergies. The new treatment could offer patients the benefit of less frequent dosing compared to current alternatives.

Following the announcement, GSK’s shares in European morning trading fell by 1.5% to £17.89, though the stock has climbed 34% over the past year.

The agreement grants GSK global rights to ozureprubart, with the exception of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.