- Business
- Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers, develops and seeks to commercialize small molecule, biologic and cell therapy medicines addressing high unmet medical needs in oncology and immunology; its core offerings include an early-stage pipeline of next-generation precision small molecules such as the selective TYK2 inhibitor GLPG3667 in Phase 2 for systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis; decentralized, point-of-care CAR-T cell therapies including GLPG5201 (CD19 CAR-T) in Phase 1/2 for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Richter transformation, GLPG5101 (CD19 CAR-T) in Phase 1/2 for relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and GLPG5301 (BCMA CAR-T) in Phase 1/2 for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma; and proprietary human antibody libraries for multi-specific CAR-Ts and biologics discovered through fully human formats including Fab, scFv and VH domains. The company operates from its headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium, where it was founded in 1999 as a joint venture between Crucell and Tibotec, with additional facilities in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the United States and other locations across Europe and Asia; it maintains approximately 700 employees focused on end-to-end R&D capabilities encompassing chemical library development, high-throughput screening, pharmacology, preclinical development and decentralized manufacturing via platforms like xCellit software, Lonza’s Cocoon system and proprietary quality control for fresh, fit CAR-T cells with a median seven-day vein-to-vein time. In recent strategic developments, Galapagos completed the transfer of its Jyseleca (filgotinib) business to Alfasigma S.p.A. in January 2024, including European and UK marketing authorizations, commercial activities and approximately 400 positions; entered a strategic collaboration and license agreement with BridGene Biosciences to bolster its early-stage oncology precision medicine pipeline; signed a collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific for CAR-T manufacturing and kitting services; and in October 2025 announced its intention to wind down the cell therapy business following a strategic review that attracted limited non-binding offers from financial investors, with a decision expected by early November 2025 alongside Q3 financial results; it also amended its filgotinib agreement with Gilead Sciences to end cost-sharing and royalty obligations, participated in Series C financing of Frontier Medicines for precision oncology assets, and continues seeking partners for small molecule assets while advancing clinical programs and external innovation through M&A and partnerships.