Gilead Sciences exercised licensing rights to two helicase‑primase inhibitors for recurrent genital herpes from Assembly Biosciences, paying $35 million up front. Both ABI‑1179 and ABI‑5366 are in phase 1b trials and have shown antiviral activity and lesion‑reduction signals in early studies. The move follows Gilead’s broader strategic option agreement with Assembly and signals the company’s willingness to pick promising antiviral assets from small biotech partners. Additional milestone and commercial payments remain contingent on development progress. Analysts will track whether Gilead advances these agents into later‑stage trials and how once‑weekly oral dosing claims perform in randomized efficacy and safety testing.