Molecular glue biotech Kymera signs with Gilead and updates Sanofi deal

Kymera Therapeutics announced a new collaboration with Gilead Sciences to develop molecular glue degraders for cancer, while existing partner Sanofi pivots to a new drug candidate, KT-485, after shelving KT-474.

Backstory: Founded in 2015, Kymera was among the first biotechs to develop drugs based on targeted protein degradation, which uses the body's cellular machinery to eliminate disease-causing proteins. The company has since formed a partnership with Sanofi and advanced multiple candidates into clinical testing.

Yes, but: Kymera had partnered with Sanofi on KT-474 for inflammatory diseases. That drug, once its lead asset, reached Phase 2 trials but is now discontinued in favor of KT-485, which has shown better potential.

Why it matters: Kymera’s growing roster of pharma partners, which now includes Gilead, signals a broader industry shift toward degraders as an alternative to conventional small molecules. With ongoing progress in immunology and oncology, the company could play a central role in shaping the next generation of precision therapies.

Payout: Kymera’s new partnership with Gilead could yield $85M upfront, with additional milestone payouts. Kymera also stands to gain up to $975M in total milestones from its Sanofi deal.

Go deeper:

• Sanofi-partnered KT-485 targets IRAK4, tied to innate immunity, with clinical trials set to begin by year-end.

• Gilead and Kymera will target CDK2, a promising cancer protein also being pursued by Roche and Monte Rosa Therapeutics.

• Kymera stock dipped 5% after the announcement but had recently surged on promising KT-621 data, an oral STAT6 degrader.