AbbVie in Talks to Acquire Gilgamesh in $1 Billion
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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-...eddit_wall
AbbVie Inc. is in talks to acquire mental health therapeutics company Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals in a deal highlighting growing takeover interest in the sector, according to people familiar with the matter.A potential deal could value privately held Gilgamesh at about $1 billion, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. An announcement could be made in the coming weeks, the people said.Deliberations are ongoing and could still be delayed or fall apart, according to the people. A representative for AbbVie, which is scheduled to report earnings on Thursday, declined to comment, while Gilgamesh couldn’t be reached for comment.An acquisition would come a little more than a year after AbbVie and Gilgamesh entered into an option-to-license agreement to develop novel therapies for psychiatric disorders.Gilgamesh is developing what are known as neuroplastogens, a type of next-generation psychedelic compound. A deal would bolster AbbVie’s pipeline of potential treatments for psychiatric disorders after a drug it acquired for schizophrenia failed in mid-stage trials last year.AbbVie sells another drug, Vraylar, for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Separately, Atai Life Sciences NV is working with an investment bank to field early stage interest from major industry players, the people said. The Peter Thiel-backed firm, which recently acquired Beckley Psytech, has received positive results from a recent mid-stage trial of a psychedelic nasal spray dubbed BPL-003. A representative for Atai declined to comment.Psychedelic drugs for treating depression could be nearing a breakthrough over the next two years, with major late stage trials coming set to deliver key readouts, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jean Rivera Irizarry.Led by founder and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Sporn, Gilgamesh focuses on developing treatments for depression, anxiety, drug addiction and other mental illnesses. In May, the company announced positive top-line results in a mid-stage trial for GM-2505, which targets major depressive disorders.“ MindMed, Cybin and Gilgamesh are leading efforts in a fast-moving field aimed at large, underserved populations, with consensus projecting about $4.5 billion in sales for the segment by 2032,” he said in a note in April.

