Gilead Sciences exercised its option to license two helicase‑primase inhibitors for recurrent genital herpes from Assembly Biosciences, paying $35 million upfront. The compounds, ABI‑1179 and ABI‑5366, are in phase 1b testing and have shown antiviral activity and reductions in lesion positivity in early studies. Gilead’s move follows a 2023 option agreement and reflects the company’s strategy to selectively in‑license antiviral programs with favorable PK and safety profiles. Assembly retains potential milestone and royalty upside, and the deal includes commercial and development economics that could involve shared profits or alternative opt‑in arrangements. The licensing decision accelerates development timelines under Gilead’s virology infrastructure and signals continued big‑pharma interest in oral antiviral agents that could offer improved dosing convenience for chronic or recurrent viral conditions.