Arcellx Acquisition Exemplifies the Momentum of Montgomery County’s Life Sciences Ecosystem

In February 2026, biopharmaceutical company and leader in HIV and cancer cell therapies Gilead Sciences announced plans to acquire Arcellx in a deal valued at approximately $7.8 billion, marking a major milestone not only for the company but for the region’s leading life sciences ecosystem. This is Gilead Science’s largest deal since 2020.

Arcellx, which was founded in Montgomery County in 2014 and moved to the Germantown Innovation Center in April of 2015, has grown from an emerging biotechnology startup into a leader in next-generation cell therapies. In 2024, the company moved its headquarters to Redwood, CA, but still maintains a nearly 60,000-square-foot facility in Rockville.

This acquisition reflects strong confidence in the company’s pioneering work, particularly its lead therapy, anito-cel, a late-stage CAR T-cell therapy designed to treat multiple myeloma, a blood cancer affecting thousands of patients worldwide. “We are fortunate to have found a world-class partner in Gilead, which has the expertise to carry forward Arcellx’s legacy,” said Arcellx Chairman and CEO Rami Elghandour.

The partnership between Gilead and Arcellx is built on years of collaboration to advance innovative immunotherapies and underscores Montgomery County’s position as the anchor of the third largest biopharma in the United States. In 2023, Kite, a Gilead company and Arcellx announced a partnership to co-develop and co-commercialize Arcellx’s product candidate anitocabtagene autoleucel, which is for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Arcellx’s journey from local startup to global biotech leader demonstrates the resources, partnerships, highly-skilled workforce, and support companies in all stages of growth find in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County is home to more than 350 life sciences companies and a robust start-up ecosystem that fuels innovation and collaboration. Through its four County-owned Business Innovation Centers, and various privately-owned accelerators and incubators, Montgomery County offers entrepreneurs unparallel access to vital resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that help them establish, grow, and thrive. As global companies increasingly look into emerging innovations, Montgomery County remains a top destination where transformative ideas become applicable solutions with real-world impact.