For $350 million, a definitive agreement has been entered into to acquire Interius BioTherapeutics, a privately held biotechnology firm, by Kite, a Gilead Company. This strategic acquisition is intended to significantly advance Kite's leadership in cell therapy by incorporating Interius's innovative in vivo platform. Unlike traditional CAR T therapies that necessitate the complex and time-consuming process of harvesting, engineering, and reinfusing a patient's cells, Interius's approach is designed to generate CAR T-cells directly within the patient’s body. This is accomplished through a single intravenous infusion, which also eliminates the need for preconditioning chemotherapy. According to Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President of Kite, this novel approach represents a promising frontier with the potential to transform patient treatment by providing more accessible and scalable solutions.

The modular architecture of Interius’s platform allows it to be rapidly adapted across various disease states, potentially broadening access to cell therapies for patients who have been unable to benefit from them in the past, particularly those with rapidly progressing diseases. Phil Johnson, President and CEO of Interius, highlighted that this acquisition is a pivotal step for the future of in vivo therapy, as it has the potential to shorten treatment timelines, expand access to care, and improve outcomes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kite will acquire all outstanding shares of Interius for the aforementioned $350 million cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments. This transaction is anticipated to reduce Gilead’s GAAP and non-GAAP 2025 earnings per share by approximately $0.23-$0.25. The closing of the deal is contingent upon the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions. Following the acquisition, Interius's team and operations will be integrated into Kite’s established research division, creating a new center of excellence in Philadelphia focused on accelerating the development of next-generation in vivo therapies.

Kite, a global biopharmaceutical company known for its focus on cell therapy and its extensive in-house manufacturing network, sees this as a crucial step in its mission to achieve cures. Gilead Sciences, the parent company, has a long-standing commitment to advancing innovative medicines for life-threatening diseases and views this acquisition as a way to further its goals in the field of oncology.