GSK Acquires Rapt Therapeutics for $2.2 Billion
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Acquisition Overview: GSK has agreed to acquire Rapt Therapeutics for $58.00 per share, totaling $2.2 billion, with the transaction expected to close in Q1 2026, demonstrating GSK's commitment to expanding its biopharmaceutical portfolio.
- Upfront Investment Insight: GSK's estimated upfront investment of $1.9 billion, net of cash acquired, indicates a strategic focus on drug development and confidence in future revenue streams from the acquisition.
- Product Development Potential: The acquisition includes ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-IgE monoclonal antibody currently in phase IIb clinical trials, which is expected to provide sustained protection for food allergy patients with dosing every 12 weeks, significantly improving patient quality of life.
- Market Reaction: Following the acquisition announcement, Rapt Therapeutics' shares rose by 1.7%, reflecting positive market sentiment towards GSK's acquisition and enhancing investor confidence in GSK's growth prospects.
Analyst Views on GSK
Wall Street analysts forecast GSK stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GSK is 38.72 USD with a low forecast of 20.15 USD and a high forecast of 55.60 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
2 Hold
3 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 49.120
Low
20.15
Averages
38.72
High
55.60
Current: 49.120
Low
20.15
Averages
38.72
High
55.60
About GSK
GSK plc is a biopharma company. The Company’s segments include Commercial Operations and Research and Development. Its portfolio and pipeline are focused on developing medicines and vaccines in four core therapeutic areas, which are the areas of human health it focuses on to prevent and treat disease: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and infectious diseases. Its specialty medicines prevent and treat diseases, from HIV to respiratory diseases, immune-mediated conditions like lupus, and cancer. Its vaccine portfolio includes over 20 vaccines to protect people from diseases and infections throughout their lives. General medicines include inhaled medicines for asthma and COPD to antibiotics. It develops and commercializes preclinical antibody-drug conjugate for Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Its portfolio also includes Efimosfermin, a fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analog therapeutic in clinical development.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
