Tubulis was spun off in 2019 from the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and LMU Munich and develops next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to deliver various active ingredients more selectively to tumors and maximize patient benefit. The transaction expands Gilead’s oncology pipeline with several innovative programs and platform technologies, some of which originated from academic research at the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) in Berlin.
The acquisition includes Tubulis’ lead product, TUB-040, a NaPi2b-targeted topoisomerase I inhibitor ADC currently in Phase 1b/2 clinical development for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gilead will also acquire TUB-030, a 5T4-targeted ADC with promising early clinical data across various solid tumor types as well as Tubulis’ next-generation ADC platform and a promising early pipeline.
Dr. Dominik Schumacher, CEO and co-founder of Tubulis, emphasizes the importance of combining scientific excellence with industrial development strength: “From the outset, we believed our conjugation technology platforms could have broad impact across the ADC field and the initial data from TUB-040 have reinforced that conviction,” said Dominik Schumacher, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Tubulis. “Joining Gilead allows us to build on this foundation within an organization that brings deep scientific expertise, global development capabilities, and the scale needed to translate innovation into medicines for patients worldwide. Through our existing collaboration, Gilead has already seen the potential of our technologies and together, we are well positioned to accelerate the development of our ADC pipeline.”
A key role in Tubulis’ product development is played by the innovative P5 conjugation technology, a linker chemistry that enables the precise coupling of antibodies with highly potent active ingredients.
It was developed through basic research by Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger, one of Tubulis’ co-founders, and his team at the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP). Tubulis has further developed the P5 technology for clinical research and application in cooperation with the team of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich), who is also a co-founder of Tubulis. "This successful technological development demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary cooperation across faculty and institute boundaries”, says Prof. Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt. Today, this technology forms a central platform for stable and controlled drug delivery in the company’s ADC programs. "This acquisition not only underscores the success of our conjugation technology and the performance of the Tubulis team in improving cancer therapy with new ADCs. It also demonstrates the importance and impact of basic research at universities and research institutes for translational innovation", says Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger.
Upon completion of the transaction, Tubulis will operate as an independent ADC research organization within Gilead, with the Munich site serving as a hub for ADC innovations. The company will build on existing integrated capabilities in research, production, and clinical development to advance next-generation ADCs.
Gilead will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Tubulis for 3.15 billion US Dollars in upfront cash consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis, plus up to 1.85 billion US Dollars in contingent milestone payments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Closing of the transaction is subject to expiration or termination of certain regulatory filings and other customary closing conditions.
