Gilead invests $414M into TREX1 cancer drug from Sprint Bioscience

Gilead has acquired Sprint Bioscience’s preclinical cancer program targeting TREX1 for $14M upfront and up to $400M in milestones.

Why it matters: The acquisition validates Sprint’s small-molecule licensing model and strengthens Gilead’s pipeline in immuno-oncology, particularly in innate immune activation.

Backstory: Founded in 2009, Sweden-based Sprint Bioscience focuses on fragment-driven drug discovery. Sprint’s platform combines structure- and fragment-based design for selective small molecules. The company model is to develop preclinical assets and out-license them after biological validation to de-risk and reinvest in new programs.

Big picture: The deal signals strong pharma interest in mechanisms that stimulate the innate immune system to fight cancer.

Zoom in: TREX1 is an immuno-oncology target that helps tumors hide from the immune system by degrading cytosolic DNA. Sprint’s inhibitors block this function, enhancing immune detection and slowing tumor growth. Preclinical data show promise for use with immunotherapies, chemo, and radiotherapy.

What’s next: Gilead will lead clinical development of the TREX1 inhibitors while Sprint gains capital to pursue other oncology targets in its discovery pipeline.