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GSK (NYSE: GSK) plans $2.2B RAPT Therapeutics acquisition for food allergy drug

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GSK plc has entered a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics for $58.00 per share in cash, valuing RAPT at an estimated aggregate equity value of $2.2 billion and implying an upfront investment of $1.9 billion net of cash acquired. The deal gives GSK global rights to ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-IgE monoclonal antibody in phase IIb development for prophylactic protection against food allergens, excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Ozureprubart is designed to be dosed every 12 weeks versus the current anti-IgE standard requiring injections every 2 to 4 weeks, and targets a large unmet need in food allergies, which affect over 17 million people in the US. GSK will launch a tender offer for all outstanding RAPT shares and then complete a second-step merger, with the transaction subject to customary conditions, including a majority tender and US antitrust clearance, and expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.

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Insights

GSK is paying $2.2 billion to add a late-stage anti-IgE food-allergy asset to its immunology pipeline.

The agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics gives GSK full global rights (outside parts of Greater China) to ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-IgE antibody in phase IIb for prophylactic food-allergy protection. Anti-IgE is already a clinically validated target, and ozureprubart’s profile is positioned around extended 12‑week dosing, which contrasts with existing systemic therapy dosed every 2 to 4 weeks.

Strategically, this fits GSK’s stated focus on Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation by adding a potential best-in-class candidate in a large, underserved indication. The filing cites over 17 million people with food allergies in the US and more than 3 million annual hospital or emergency visits, as well as an estimated $33 billion family cost burden in 2024, underscoring the potential market scope.

Financially, the transaction values RAPT at an estimated equity value of $2.2 billion, with $1.9 billion net upfront after adjusting for cash, to be executed via a $58.00-per-share tender offer followed by a merger. Completion depends on a majority of shares being tendered and expiration or termination of the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino waiting period, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2026; actual impact will hinge on phase IIb data from the prestIgE trial, which is expected in 2027, and subsequent phase III development.

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 6-K
 
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
 
For the month of January 2026
 
Commission File Number 001-15170
 
 
GSK plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
 
79 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG
(Address of principal executive office)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
Form 20-F . . . .X. . . . Form 40-F . . . . . . . .
 
 
 
Issued: 20 January 2026, London UK
 
GSK enters agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics
 
     Acquisition includes ozureprubart, a potentially best-in-class anti-IgE antibody, in development for prophylactic protection against food allergens
     Ozureprubart offers potential to protect against food allergy reactions with less frequent dosing compared to existing standard-of-care therapy
     Food allergies are increasing with significant unmet need and serious health risks
     Acquisition adds to Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation pipeline
 
 
 
GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced that it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics ("RAPT") (NASDAQ: RAPT), a California-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunologic diseases. The acquisition includes ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody, currently in phase IIb clinical development for prophylactic protection against food allergens.   
 
IgE is a clinically validated target and is the only approved systemic therapy shown to protect patients from a harmful allergic and inflammatory immune response. Around 94% of severe food allergies are caused by IgE-mediated reactions.1
 
Current anti-IgE treatment for food allergy involves injections every 2 to 4 weeks, which can be a significant burden, particularly since most patients are children. Ozureprubart's clinical profile offers the potential for less frequent dosing of every 12 weeks, supporting improved compliance and patient outcomes; as well as providing a new option to approximately 25% of patients currently ineligible for existing therapy. Ozureprubart complements GSK's extensive commercial footprint and prescriber base in allergy.
 
Data from the phase IIb trial (prestIgE) assessing use of ozureprubart as monotherapy is expected in 2027, with phase III trials to be focused on both at-risk adult and paediatric populations. In the US, over 17 million people are diagnosed with food allergies, with more than 1.3 million people suffering severe reactions.2,3,4 This results in more than 3 million patient visits each year to hospital and emergency care.5
 
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK said: "The addition of ozureprubart brings another promising new, potential best-in-class treatment to GSK's pipeline. Food allergies cause severe health impacts to patients with existing treatment requiring injections as frequently as every 2 weeks. Ozureprubart offers the opportunity to bring sustained protection to patients with dosing every 12 weeks, and is consistent with our approach to acquire assets that address validated targets and where there is clear unmet medical need."
 
Brian Wong, President & Chief Executive Officer, RAPT Therapeutics, said: "We are excited to enter into this agreement with GSK, which offers an attractive path forward for our programs, particularly the opportunity we envision for ozureprubart in food allergy. This transaction has the potential to provide access to the global development and commercialisation capabilities, resources and infrastructure that GSK has to offer and ultimately bring added value to our pipeline, patients and stockholders."
 
Financial considerations
Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will pay RAPT Therapeutics shareholders $58.00 per share at closing for an estimated aggregate equity value of $2.2 billion. Net of cash acquired, GSK's estimated upfront investment is $1.9 billion.
 
The transaction gives GSK the global rights to the ozureprubart programme, excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong. GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone and royalty payments for ozureprubart owed to RAPT's partner, Shanghai Jeyou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
 
Under the terms of the agreement, GSK's subsidiary is obligated to commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of RAPT common stock for $58.00 per share in cash within 10 business days of signing. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of a majority of RAPT's outstanding shares of common stock in the tender offer and expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the US. Promptly following the closing of the tender offer, GSK will acquire any shares of RAPT that are not tendered in the tender offer through a second-step merger under Delaware law at the tender offer price. GSK will account for the transaction as a business combination.
 
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.
 
Advisors
Evercore is acting as exclusive financial advisor and A&O Shearman is serving as legal counsel to GSK in connection with the transaction. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to RAPT Therapeutics.
 
Additional information
This press announcement is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer or a recommendation to sell securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that GSK,
GlaxoSmithKline LLC ("GSK LLC") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Redrose Acquisition Co. will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The tender offer for the outstanding shares of RAPT Therapeutics common stock described in this press announcement has not commenced. At the time the tender offer is commenced, GSK, GSK LLC and Redrose Acquisition Co. will file, or will cause to be filed, a Schedule TO Tender Offer Statement with the SEC, and, thereafter, RAPT Therapeutics will file a Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement with the SEC, in each case with respect to the tender offer. The Schedule TO Tender Offer Statement (including an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other offer documents) and the Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the tender offer. Those materials (once they become available) will be made available to RAPT Therapeutics stockholders at no expense to them by the information agent for the tender offer, which will be announced. In addition, those materials and all other documents filed by or caused to be filed by RAPT Therapeutics or GSK with the SEC will be available at no charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and Schedule TO Offer Statement (once each becomes available), RAPT Therapeutics and GSK file or furnish, as applicable, annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information filed by RAPT Therapeutics at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-0330 for further information on the public reference room. RAPT Therapeutics and GSK filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
 
About food allergies
In the US, over 17 million people are diagnosed with food allergies, with more than 1.3 million people suffering severe reactions.2,3,4 Notably, 65% of severe food allergy patients are children and adolescents.1 This results in more than 3 million patient visits each year to hospital and emergency care.5 Disease burden is amplified by the frequency and complexity of allergic reactions, which can escalate to anaphylaxis, emergency care and impact a patient's wellbeing and participation in social activities. Collectively, food allergies cost US families an estimated $33 billion in 2024, underscoring the need for more effective and durable therapies.5
 
 
About RAPT Therapeutics
RAPT Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immunology-based biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunologic diseases. Utilizing deep and proprietary expertise in immunology, RAPT develops novel molecules that are designed to modulate the critical immune responses underlying these diseases.
 
About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at www.gsk.com.
 
GSK enquiries
 
 
 
Media:
Tim Foley
+44 (0) 20 8047 5502
(London)
 
Sarah Clements
+44 (0) 20 8047 5502
(London)
 
Kathleen Quinn
+1 202 603 5003
(Washington DC)
 
Lyndsay Meyer
+1 202 302 4595
(Washington DC)
 
 
 
 
Investor Relations:
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+44 (0) 7831 826525
(London)
 
James Dodwell
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Mick Readey
+44 (0) 7990 339653
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Steph Mountifield
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Jeff McLaughlin
+1 215 751 7002
(Philadelphia)
 
Frannie DeFranco
+1 215 751 3126
(Philadelphia)
 
RAPT Therapeutics enquiries
Sylvia Wheeler (swheeler@wheelhouselsa.com)
Aljanae Reynolds (areynolds@wheelhouselsa.com)
 
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024. This communication includes forward-looking statements related to RAPT Therapeutics, ozureprubart and the acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics by GSK that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including all statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectation of RAPT Therapeutics and members of its senior management team and can typically be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "predict," "target," "potential," "likely," "continue," "ongoing," "could," "should," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, as well as variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the business combination, similar transactions, prospective performance, future plans, events, expectations, performance, objectives and opportunities and the outlook for RAPT Therapeutics' business; the commercial success of RAPT Therapeutics' products; the anticipated timing of clinical data and regulatory filings or approvals relating to products; the possibility of favourable or unfavourable results from clinical trials; the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; filings and approvals relating to the transaction; the expected timing of the completion of the transaction; the parties' ability to complete the transaction; and the accuracy of any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ from expectations contemplated by forward-looking statements include: uncertainties as to the timing of the tender offer and completion of the merger; the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that RAPT Therapeutics stockholders may not tender into the offer a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding at the time of the expiration of the offer or that required regulatory approvals may not be obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition when expected or at all; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the proposed acquisition, including the effect of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the acquisition on the ability of RAPT Therapeutics to retain and hire key personnel or maintain key vendor, supplier or partner relationships; risks that the proposed acquisition disrupts the current plans and operations of RAPT Therapeutics; transaction costs; risks associated with potential litigation or regulatory actions related to the transaction; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in documents filed with the SEC by RAPT Therapeutics, including current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the Schedule 14D-9 to be filed by RAPT Therapeutics, or in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC by GSK, as well as the Schedule TO to be filed by GSK. All forward- looking statements are based on information currently available to GSK and RAPT Therapeutics, and neither GSK nor RAPT Therapeutics assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
 
 
Registered in England & Wales:
No. 3888792
 
Registered Office:
79 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1DG
 
 
References
1 GSK Epi assessment based on MarketScan and Optum claims database
2 Warren CM, Aktas ON, Manalo LJ, Bartell TR, Gupta RS. The epidemiology of multifood allergy in the United States: a population-based study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(5):637-648.e5.
3 US Census Bureau. Age and Sex, American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S0101, 2022. Accessed 9 January, 2026. https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S0101.
4 MarketScan's overall prevalence, and Optum's age-stratified (<18; 18+) and overall prevalence. Severe FA defined as patients with ER/inpatient visit or under specialist care.
5 FARE Food Allergy Facts and Statistics for the US (April 2024).
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
 
GSK plc
 
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: January 20, 2026
 
 
 
 
By:/s/ VICTORIA WHYTE
--------------------------
 
 
 
Victoria Whyte
 
Authorised Signatory for and on
 
behalf of GSK plc

FAQ

What acquisition did GSK (GSK) announce in this Form 6-K?

GSK announced that it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire RAPT Therapeutics, a clinical-stage immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company. The deal centers on gaining global rights (excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong) to RAPT’s lead asset, ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-IgE monoclonal antibody being developed for prophylactic protection against food allergens.

How much is GSK paying to acquire RAPT Therapeutics?

Under the agreement, GSK will pay $58.00 per share in cash for all outstanding RAPT common stock, corresponding to an estimated aggregate equity value of $2.2 billion. Net of cash acquired, GSK’s estimated upfront investment is $1.9 billion, and the company plans to account for the deal as a business combination.

What is ozureprubart and why is it important for GSK (GSK)?

Ozureprubart is a long-acting anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody in phase IIb development for prophylactic protection against food allergens. Current systemic anti-IgE treatment for food allergy requires injections every 2 to 4 weeks, often in children. Ozureprubart’s clinical profile offers the potential for dosing every 12 weeks and an option for approximately 25% of patients currently ineligible for existing therapy, aligning with GSK’s Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation pipeline strategy.

What are the key terms and conditions of the RAPT acquisition by GSK?

A GSK subsidiary is obligated to commence a cash tender offer for all outstanding RAPT shares at $58.00 per share within 10 business days of signing. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of a majority of RAPT’s outstanding common shares and expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Act in the US. After the tender offer closes, GSK will acquire any remaining shares via a second-step merger at the same price.

When is GSK’s acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics expected to close?

The agreement states that the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to satisfaction of the tender, regulatory and other customary conditions. Until the tender offer is formally launched and completed, RAPT will remain an independent company, and additional details will be provided through the Schedule TO and Schedule 14D‑9 filings with the SEC.

How large is the food allergy market that GSK is targeting with ozureprubart?

In the US, the filing notes that over 17 million people are diagnosed with food allergies, with more than 1.3 million experiencing severe reactions and more than 3 million annual hospital and emergency care visits. It also cites an estimated cost to US families of $33 billion in 2024, highlighting significant unmet need and the potential demand for more effective and durable therapies such as ozureprubart.

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