Gilead's Kite Expands into In Vivo CAR-T with $350M Interius Acquisition

Gilead Sciences has made a significant move to bolster its cell therapy portfolio, acquiring Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million. The deal, announced on August 21, 2025, will integrate Interius into Gilead's cell therapy-focused subsidiary, Kite Pharma, marking a strategic expansion into the promising field of in vivo CAR-T therapies.

Advancing In Vivo CAR-T Technology

The acquisition centers around Interius' innovative platform designed to generate CAR-T cells inside a patient's body. This in vivo approach aims to overcome limitations associated with traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapies, such as Gilead's approved products Yescarta and Tecartus.

Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President of Kite, emphasized the potential of in vivo therapy, stating, "In vivo therapy is a promising frontier with the potential to transform how we approach treating patients, shifting to more accessible and scalable solutions."

Interius' technology offers several advantages over conventional CAR-T treatments:

• Single intravenous infusion delivery
• Elimination of preconditioning chemotherapy
• Reduced complex cell processing requirements
• Potential for more durable and long-lasting therapeutic effects

Clinical Progress and Integration Plans

Interius has already advanced its lead candidate, INT2104, an in vivo CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapy, into a phase 1 trial for B-cell malignancies. The trial, which began in October 2024, represents a significant milestone in the development of this novel approach.

As part of the acquisition:

1. Interius employees and operations will be integrated into Kite's R&D structure.
2. A "center of excellence" will be established in Philadelphia, Interius' home city, to accelerate the development of next-generation in vivo therapies.

Phil Johnson, M.D., CEO of Interius, expressed optimism about the merger, saying, "This marks a pivotal step for Interius and the future of in vivo therapy, which has the potential to reduce treatment timelines, broaden access to care and improve outcomes for patients with aggressive or advanced disease."

Industry Trends in In Vivo Cell Therapies

Gilead's acquisition of Interius aligns with a broader industry trend towards in vivo cell therapies. Earlier this year, AbbVie acquired Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion, while AstraZeneca invested $425 million upfront in EsoBiotec. These moves highlight the growing interest in developing more accessible and scalable cell therapy solutions.

The pharmaceutical industry's shift towards in vivo approaches aims to address key challenges associated with traditional CAR-T therapies, including manufacturing complexities, scalability issues, and the need for lymphodepleting chemotherapy. By potentially overcoming these obstacles, in vivo CAR-T therapies could significantly expand the reach of these powerful treatments to a broader patient population.