Gilead to Pay Texas $45 Million Over Claims Its Free Nurse Program Steered Medicaid Prescriptions, Denies Wrongdoing

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reached an agreement with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance for LYVDELZI, a treatment for Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Public reimbursement could start as early as 2027. GILD shares rose 0.11% in pre-market trading to $158.86.

BioNTech SE plans to amend its ROSETTA Breast-01 trial to pair pumitamig with Gilead Sciences' Trodelvy for treating triple-negative breast cancer. The change requires regulatory approval. BioNTech is developing pumitamig with Bristol Myers Squibb, and Gilead will supply Trodelvy. The trial's safety and efficacy are not yet established.

Roche expanded its ADC partnership with Hansoh Pharma, with a deal potentially worth over $15B. Merck KGaA agreed to acquire Silence Therapeutics for $1.3B, gaining a rare blood cancer therapy and RNA tech. Retail sentiment on Stocktwits was neutral for Gilead and bullish for Merck KGaA, Silence Therapeutics, and others.

Gilead Sciences to acquire PepStar Therapeutics' oral peptide drug HCXT-2001 for $1.3B. The drug targets IL-23 receptor, a validated inflammation target, and is in Phase 1 testing. Gilead aims to expand its inflammation pipeline, with potential applications in IBD and psoriasis. The deal is expected to close by year-end.

Gilead Sciences will pay $45 million to settle a Texas lawsuit alleging improper Medicaid prescription incentives. The state claimed the company offered free nursing services and reimbursement assistance to promote its drugs. Gilead denies wrongdoing but settled to avoid litigation costs. The agreement follows a similar settlement with AstraZeneca earlier this year.

GSK received FDA approvals for Jemperli (rectal cancer) and Hibsago (hepatitis B) in one week, with different risk profiles. Roche agreed to a $15B deal with Hansoh Pharmaceutical for cancer treatments. Point-of-care marketing spending reached $1.2B in 2025, up 15% from 2024, according to industry data.