Global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at approximately USD 1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The acquisition would further AbbVie’s strategic expansion into the mental health treatment space.

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech firm developing novel neuropsychiatric therapies, with a focus on next-generation psychedelic-based treatments for conditions such as depression and anxiety. The company’s pipeline includes multiple early-stage compounds targeting key mental health disorders using innovative mechanisms.

The acquisition aligns with AbbVie’s growing interest in neuroscience. The company had previously expanded its psychiatric pipeline through internal R&D and partnerships, and this deal could mark one of its most significant moves in the mental health domain. AbbVie already markets Vraylar, a treatment for bipolar depression and schizophrenia, which has performed well commercially.

If finalized, the Gilgamesh deal would signal major pharmaceutical industry validation of the evolving psychedelic therapeutics space — an area once seen as fringe, but now attracting substantial mainstream investment due to the growing mental health crisis and unmet clinical needs.

Neither AbbVie nor Gilgamesh has commented publicly on the negotiations. However, the deal underscores big pharma’s increasing interest in neuroscience, especially as several companies seek to diversify portfolios beyond traditional chronic disease therapies.

In recent years, psychedelic-based mental health treatments have gained momentum, driven by encouraging early trial results and regulatory bodies showing openness to novel approaches. A successful acquisition of Gilgamesh could position AbbVie as a key player in this emerging and potentially transformative treatment landscape.