Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire Arcellx for $7.8 billion in cash, taking full control of anito‑cel, the BCMA‑directed CAR‑T therapy nearing FDA review. The deal consolidates co-development economics and gives Gilead exclusive rights to commercialize anito‑cel, which has shown pivotal efficacy signals in multiple myeloma trials. Analysts view the buyout as a strategic bid to shore up Gilead’s cell‑therapy unit ahead of a competitive launch window against J&J’s Carvykti. The transaction includes an upfront cash payment and contingent value rights tied to sales milestones, accelerating Gilead’s ownership of both the asset and Arcellx’s D‑Domain CAR platform. Management framed the move as an effort to expedite regulatory and commercial execution and to remove profit‑share complexity with a partner. The acquisition closes before the FDA’s PDUFA decision for anito‑cel, positioning Gilead to control launch sequencing and pricing. For biotech investors and cell‑therapy developers, the deal underscores a surge in strategic M&A to secure late‑stage cell assets and consolidate manufacturing and commercialization risk. It signals that large pharma remains willing to pay premium prices for assets that can reshape specialty oncology franchises.