AbbVie Reportedly in Talks to Acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals for $1 Billion

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) is reportedly negotiating the acquisition of Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, a privately held mental health therapeutics company, in a deal valued at around $1 billion, according to Bloomberg. The potential acquisition underscores AbbVie’s continued push into the neuroscience and mental health treatment market as it seeks to diversify beyond its aging blockbuster drug portfolio.

In May, AbbVie and Gilgamesh entered a partnership to co-develop novel therapies targeting psychiatric disorders. Under the terms of that collaboration, Gilgamesh could receive up to $1.95 billion in option fees and milestone payments. This existing alliance has set the stage for deeper collaboration, though sources caution that acquisition talks remain ongoing and could still fall through.

AbbVie’s aggressive deal-making strategy follows the loss of U.S. patent exclusivity for Humira, its best-selling rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Since 2023, the pharmaceutical giant has spent more than $20 billion on acquisitions, aiming to bolster its pipeline across oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.

If finalized, the Gilgamesh deal would strengthen AbbVie’s position in the fast-growing mental health therapeutics market, an area attracting increasing interest from major drugmakers seeking innovative treatments for depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions.