GSK Boosts Its Asthma Product Portfolio With Over $1B Deal For Aiolos Bio

GSK plc GSK has agreed to acquire Aiolos Bio Inc. for a $1 billion upfront payment and up to $400 million in certain success-based regulatory milestone payments.

The acquisition provides GSK with access to Aiolos’ AIO-001, a long-acting anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) monoclonal antibody ready to enter phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of adult patients with asthma, with the potential for additional indications including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. 

AIO-001 was exclusively licensed to Aiolos outside Greater China by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone payments as well as tiered royalties owed to Hengrui.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said, “Adding AIO-001, a potentially best-in-class medicine targeting the TSLP pathway, could expand the reach of our current respiratory biologics portfolio, including to the 40% of severe asthma patients with low T2 inflammation where treatment options are still needed.”

Early studies of AIO-001 have shown initial safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biological activity in healthy volunteers and asthma patients. 

Additionally, AIO-001 has the potential to be administered every six months due to its enhanced potency and half-life extension technology.

With AIO-001, GSK’s respiratory portfolio could provide a biologic option to a broader portion of the 315 million patients living with asthma regardless of biomarker status including those with low T2 inflammation.

Reuters notes that GSK has been concentrating on expanding its respiratory diseases portfolio, particularly emphasizing the successful launch of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. 

This growth strategy is crucial for the company as it navigates through patent expirations and diminishing revenue from its existing top-selling products, which are expected to occur by the end of the decade.

Respiratory medicines and vaccines generated about £11 billion in sales for GSK in 2022, Reuters noted.

Price Action: GSK shares are up 0.30% at $39.76 premarket on the last check Tuesday.

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