GSK to buy RAPT Therapeutics for $2.2B to gain rights to experimental allergy drug ozureprubart.

GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to acquire RAPT Therapeutics for $2.2 billion, gaining global rights to ozureprubart, an experimental long-acting anti-IgE antibody in phase 2b trials for preventing severe food allergies. The drug, which could require dosing only every 12 weeks—compared to every 2–4 weeks for current treatments—may improve adherence and expand access for about 25% of patients currently ineligible for existing therapies. Clinical data are expected in 2027, with phase 3 trials planned. The deal, valued at $58 per share with a $1.9 billion net upfront payment, is set to close in the first quarter of 2026. GSK’s chief scientific officer called ozureprubart a promising best-in-class candidate addressing a significant unmet medical need. The acquisition excludes mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.