BUILDING A BETTER T-CELL: By modifying T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that recognize cancer-specific antigens, researchers can prime the cells to recognize and kill tumor cells that would otherwise escape immune detection. The process involves extracting a patient’s T cells, transfecting them with a gene for a CAR, then reinfusing the transfected cells into the patient.© LUCY READING-IKKANDAFoster City, California–based Gilead Sciences has offered $11.9 billion cash—or $180 per share, a 29 percent greater value than the stock price at Friday’s close—for Kite Pharma and its CAR T-cell therapy program, which is currently racing to be the first to market.
“This technology is really going to be transformative to the field,” Gilead CEO John Milligan tells The Wall Street Journal.
The therapy, which involves genetically engineering patients’ own T cells to carry chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that make them more potent tumor killers, has thus far demonstrated success in treating blood cancers such as lymphoma. Its leading drug, axi-cel, is awaiting review by regulatory authorities in the U.S. and Europe.
Kite’s CAR T-cell products are heading toward approval alongside those from Novartis, whose CTL019 therapy to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia recently got two thumbs up from a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee.
Gilead is looking to replicate the success of a similarly large deal it made in 2012—the $11 billion purchase of ...
