Latham & Watkins Advises Tizona Therapeutics in Acquisition by Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. has announced that it will invest $300 million to acquire a 49.9 percent equity interest in Tizona Therapeutics Inc., a privately held company developing first-in-class cancer immunotherapies. Gilead will also receive an exclusive option to acquire the remainder of Tizona for up to an additional $1.25 billion, including an option exercise fee and potential future milestone payments. 

Latham & Watkins LLP represents Tizona in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by Bay Area partner Mark Bekheit, with Orange County associate Brett Urig and Bay Area associates Michelle Lu, Raul Gonzalez and Christopher Lim; on general corporate matters by Bay Area partners Judith Hasko and Ben Potter; on intellectual property matters by Bay Area associates Jekkie Kim and Peggy Ni; on benefits and compensation matters by Bay Area partner Ashley Wagner, with Bay Area associate James Robinson; on regulatory matters by Washington, D.C. partner Ben Haas, with associate Nathan Beaton; on healthcare and privacy matters by Bay Area counsel Betty Pang and Heather Deixler; on tax matters by Bay Area partner Kirt Switzer, with New York associate Lauren Bewley; and on antitrust matters by Washington, DC partner Mandy Reeves and counsel Patrick English.