Gilead moved to strengthen its cell therapy presence with the acquisition of Arcellx, a deal public reports put at roughly $7.8 billion, positioning the company to compete with established CAR‑T players for multiple myeloma and other hematologic targets. Gilead executives framed the purchase as securing registrational‑stage cell therapy economics and capabilities to go head‑to‑head with rivals. The takeover gives Gilead control of Arcellx’s lead CAR‑T program and associated clinical assets; the companies emphasized the strategic fit given Gilead’s existing cell therapy manufacturing and commercialization infrastructure. Industry analysts noted the deal underscores Big Pharma’s continued willingness to pay for near‑market cell therapies with differentiated safety or manufacturing profiles. For investors and partners, the transaction signals consolidation in the engineered‑cell space and highlights the premium attached to late‑stage cell therapy assets with credible paths to approval and commercial scale.