GSK has completed its acquisition of Aiolos Bio, a San Francisco, California-based clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company, in a $1.4-billion deal ($1 billion upfront and up to $400 million in milestone payments). 

Aiolos’ key product is AIO-001, a monoclonal antibody, ready to enter Phase II development, for treating adults with asthma, with potential for additional indications, including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. The drug has the potential for longer dosing intervals, such as every six months, due to its half-life extension and differentiated potency, according to information from GSK.  

AIO-001 binds to the human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) ligand to inhibit TSLP signaling. TSLP has a role in driving inflammation, including in asthma. AIO-001 was exclusively licensed to Aiolos outside of Greater China by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, a Jiangsu, China-based bio/pharmaceutical company.  

Under the agreement, GSK pays a $1-billion upfront payment and up to $400 million in certain success-based regulatory milestone payments. In addition, GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone payments as well as tiered royalties owed to Hengrui.  

Source: GSK