AbbVie in Talks to Acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for $1B

AbbVie is reportedly in talks to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for around $1 billion, according to Bloomberg News. The deal has sparked a rally in the psychedelic stocks. Atai Life Sciences, backed by Peter Thiel, is also involved in the discussions. The acquisition would be AbbVie's entry into the psychedelic drug market, which is expected to see significant growth in the coming years.

Title: AbbVie in Talks to Acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for $1 Billion

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) is reportedly in discussions to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for approximately $1 billion, according to Bloomberg News [1]. This potential acquisition has sparked a rally in psychedelic stocks, including Atai Life Sciences (ATAI), Cybin (CYBN), and Mind Medicine (MND) [2]. The deal, if successful, would mark AbbVie's entry into the psychedelic drug market, which is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years.

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage company specializing in therapies for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been in talks with AbbVie since May 2025. Under the proposed partnership, Gilgamesh could receive up to $1.95 billion in option fees and milestone payments [1]. The acquisition would bolster AbbVie's pipeline of potential treatments for psychiatric disorders, following a recent setback with a schizophrenia drug that failed mid-stage trials [3].

The acquisition is expected to come at a time when the psychedelic drug market is gaining traction. Major late-stage trials are set to deliver key readouts, which could pave the way for significant advancements in treating mental health conditions. The positive results from Gilgamesh's mid-stage trial for GM-2505, which targets major depressive disorders, have further underscored the potential of psychedelic therapies [2].

Atai Life Sciences, a company backed by Peter Thiel, is also involved in the discussions, adding to the interest in the psychedelic sector. Atai recently acquired Beckley Psytech and has received positive results from a mid-stage trial of a psychedelic nasal spray dubbed BPL-003 [3]. The involvement of Atai and other major players suggests a growing confidence in the investability of the psychedelic space.

The deal is still in the deliberation phase and could be delayed or fall apart. Both AbbVie and Gilgamesh have not yet responded to requests for comment. However, the potential acquisition highlights the growing interest in the mental health sector, driven by promising clinical trial results and favorable regulatory environments.

References
[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/abbvie-talks-acquire-gilgamesh-pharmaceuticals-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-07-30/
[2] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4475753-psychedelic-stocks-up-abbvie-gilgamesh-deal-talks
[3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-30/abbvie-is-said-in-talks-to-acquire-gilgamesh-in-1-billion-deal