Abbvie to acquire Bretisilocin from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

Abbvie Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing therapeutic drugs for various diseases. It plans to acquire Bretisilocin from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals. AbbVie's products are distributed globally, with the majority of net sales coming from the United States. The company's focus is on treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and HIV.

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV), a leading biopharmaceutical company, has announced its intention to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s lead investigational candidate, bretisilocin (GM-2505), which is currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). This acquisition is part of AbbVie's ongoing commitment to expand its psychiatric pipeline and offer innovative solutions to patients with mental health conditions.

Bretisilocin is a novel, short-acting serotonin (5-HT)2A receptor agonist and 5-HT releaser, designed to address the challenges observed in existing psychedelic compounds. It has shown promising results in a Phase 2a study, demonstrating a clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to a low-dose active comparator. The study found that a single dose of bretisilocin (10mg) resulted in a -21.6 point change from baseline in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score, compared to a -12.1 point change for the comparator (p = 0.003) [1].

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will acquire Gilgamesh's bretisilocin program for up to $1.2 billion, inclusive of an upfront payment and development milestones. Additionally, Gilgamesh will spin off a new entity, Gilgamesh Pharma Inc., to hold its employees and other programs, including its oral NMDA receptor antagonist blixeprodil (GM-1020) [1].

This acquisition builds upon AbbVie's 2024 collaboration and option-to-license agreement with Gilgamesh to advance the development of next-generation therapies for psychiatric disorders. The option-to-license remains in effect and will be transferred to Gilgamesh Pharma Inc. in connection with the spin-out [1].

AbbVie's focus on expanding its psychiatric pipeline aligns with its mission to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions for serious health issues. The company's products are distributed globally, with the majority of net sales coming from the United States. AbbVie's therapeutic drug research and development specializes in treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, HIV, and complications of chronic renal disease [2].

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbvie-to-acquire-gilgamesh-pharmaceuticals-bretisilocin-a-novel-investigational-therapy-for-major-depressive-disorder-expanding-psychiatry-pipeline-302537266.html
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/abbvie-to-acquire-gilgamesh-pharmaceuticals-bretisilocin-ce7c50d8d881ff25