Gilead acquires Sprint Bioscience TREX1 programme

Gilead Sciences Corp has acquired Sprint Bioscience AB’s preclinical TREX1 cancer programme in a deal worth US$14m upfront and up to US$400m in potential milestones. Sprint Bioscience AB (publ), a Swedish public limited company founded in 2009, chose a full asset sale, transferring clinical risk to Gilead while securing capital to advance other preclinical projects. CEO Johan Emilsson said the move reflects a strategic shift toward flexible, value-driven exits.

Sprint focuses on early-stage drug discovery. The company uses a fragment- and structure-based platform to design highly selective small-molecule inhibitors. Its business model is built around developing preclinical assets to the point of biological validation and then monetising them through sales or licensing to larger pharmaceutical companies. This approach allows Sprint to de-risk projects while reinvesting in new oncology programmes.

TREX1, or Three-prime repair exonuclease 1, is a first-in-class immuno-oncology target. The protein helps tumours evade immune detection by degrading cytosolic DNA that would normally trigger an immune response. Sprint’s inhibitors block TREX1, forcing tumours to expose themselves. Preclinical data presented at AACR IO 2025 showed that TREX1 inhibition activates interferon pathways, slows tumour growth, and increases immune-cell infiltration. These findings suggest the target could enhance responses to immunotherapies, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

For Gilead, TREX1 complements existing immuno-oncology therapies. The target activates innate immune pathways, potentially improving outcomes across multiple tumour types. The acquisition strengthens Gilead’s position in the emerging field of innate immune reactivation.

The deal is a strategic milestone for Sprint Bioscience. It provides non-dilutive funding, validates the company’s discovery platform, and demonstrates that European early-stage biotechs can deliver high-value assets to major pharmaceutical companies. TREX1 not only represents a promising cancer therapy but also confirms the potential of Sprint’s platform to produce first-in-class preclinical programmes efficiently.