Leadership Weighs In
Rami Elghandour, chair and CEO of Arcellx, described Gilead as a “world-class partner,” praising the therapy’s promise for patients and clinicians. He also credited Arcellx’s employees and clinical trial participants for bringing the treatment this far.
The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. Those include regulatory approvals and the tender of a majority of Arcellx’s outstanding shares.
Advisers and Deal Architects
Financial heavyweights are steering the transaction. BofA Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are advising Gilead.
On Arcellx’s side, Centerview Partners LLC is serving as exclusive financial adviser, with legal guidance to Centerview provided by a team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP led by partners Laura Knoll and Graham Robinson.
The Ropes & Gray team advising Gilead is led by partner Emily Oldshue. The Wilson Sonsini team representing Arcellx is led by partners Rob Ishii, Dan Koeppen and Ross Tanaka.
As the biotech sector navigates volatile markets and regulatory headwinds, this acquisition lands like a thunderclap — a calculated gamble that the next breakthrough in cancer therapy will not just treat disease, but redefine the battlefield.
