GSK will acquire Aiolos Bio, allowing them to provide new respiratory products
GSK is looking to acquire Aiolos Bio in a deal worth up to $1.4 billion. This acquisition will provide GSK with a broader range of biologic-based respiratory therapeutic candidates.
On Jan. 9, 2024, GSK and Aiolos Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory and inflammatory conditions, revealed their agreement for GSK to acquire Aiolos for $1 billion upfront and up to $400 million in success-based regulatory milestone payments.
GSK will have the opportunity to utilize Aiolos' AIO-001, a long-acting anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is prepared for Phase II clinical development, as a result of the acquisition. The mAb is currently being studied for its potential in treating asthma in adults. Additional possible indications involve chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied by nasal polyps. Aiolos holds the sole rights to AIO-001 in regions other than Greater China, thanks to the licensing agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals (Hengrui).
GSK highlights the significance of targeting the TSLP pathway in addressing the inflammatory response in various allergic and inflammatory diseases, as stated in a company press release. GSK also stated in the release that TSLP has been proven effective in treating asthma, regardless of biomarker status.
AIO-001 has demonstrated promising results in terms of safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biological activity in both healthy volunteers and asthma patients during the early stages of research. The mAb also has the potential to be administered every six months due to its improved potency and technology that extends its half-life.
"The addition of AIO-001, a promising medicine that focuses on the TSLP pathway, has the potential to broaden our existing respiratory biologics portfolio. This expansion could benefit the 40% of severe asthma patients who have low T2 inflammation and are still in need of treatment options," stated Tony Wood, GSK's chief scientific officer, in the press release.
We are confident that this transaction highlights the immense potential of our long-acting anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody, AIO-001. In the release, Khurem Farooq, CEO of Aiolos Bio, expressed confidence in the rapid advancement of this therapy through the partnership with GSK. The ultimate goal is to alleviate the treatment burden for patients.
Source: GSK
