GSK to Acquire Aiolos Bio for $1 Billion Upfront, Adding Promising TSLP Antibody AIO-001 to Respiratory Pipeline

Jan 09, 2024 16:49 CST Updated 16:49

GSK

Pharmaceutical R&D Manufacturer

Today,GSK and Aiolos Bio Announce Agreement:GSK will$1 billion upfront payment and $400 million regulatory milestone paymentAcquisition of Aiolos Bio。

Aiolos BioYesIs a clinical-stage private biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Francisco, USA, and London, UK,Dedicated to Developing New Drugs for Respiratory and Immune System Diseases。It is worth mentioning that Aiolos Bio was founded in 2023.It has been less than a year since the acquisition!

The establishment of Aiolos Bio is closely related to Hengrui SHR-1905.

On August 14, 2023, SHR-1905 (AIO-001) was exclusively licensed by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. to One Bio, a U.S.-based company (later renamed Aiolos Bio), for regions outside Greater China. Aiolos Bio will obtain exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SHR-1905 globally, excluding Greater China.

SHR-1905 is a domestically developed monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP).，It can block the release of inflammatory cytokines, inhibit the transmission of downstream inflammatory signals, and ultimately improve the inflammatory status and control disease progression. Since TSLP acts on the early upstream of the inflammatory cascade, SHR-1905 has the potential to be applicable to a wide range of severe asthma, without limitation by phenotype (such as eosinophilic or allergic) or biomarkers.

October 2023On the 24th, Aiolos Bio AnnouncesCompleted an oversubscribed $245 million Series A financing.

This acquisition enables GSK to gain access to Aiolos’s AIO‑001, a potential best-in-class long-acting anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) monoclonal antibody, which is ready to enter Phase II clinical development for the treatment of adult asthma patients and has potential for other indications (including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps).

One Bio is the former name of Aiolos Bio, and SHR-1905 is now known as AIO-001.

AIO-001 is a novel monoclonal antibody that has the potential to extend dosing intervals, such as once every 6 months, due to its extended half-life and differentiated potency. AIO‑001 binds to the human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) ligand, inhibiting TSLP signaling. TSLP has a well-established central role in driving inflammation, including asthma.

GSK Chief Scientific Officer Tony Wood stated:“We have a proud heritage and deep development expertise in respiratory medicines, particularly in diseases driven by high IL-5 driven eosinophil levels or high T2 inflammation. The addition of AIO-001, a potential best-in-class medicine targeting the TSLP pathway, could expand the reach of our current portfolio of biologics for respiratory diseases to include the 40% of severe asthma patients with low T2 inflammation who still need treatment options."

Targeting the TSLP pathway addresses a key driver of inflammation in major allergic and inflammatory diseases, regardless of biomarker status.TSLP are clinically validated asthma treatments.Target.Early Research on AIO-001DisplayedPreliminary Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Bioactivity in Healthy Volunteers and Asthma Patients.In addition, due to the enhanced potency and extended half-life technology of AIO-001, it has the potential to be administered once every six months, which may redefine the standard of care.

GSK has an industry-leading portfolio of marketed and investigational medicines for the treatment of a range of respiratory diseases, including biologics aimed at treating asthma patients with high eosinophil levels or high T2 inflammation levels. With AIO‑001, GSK’s respiratory portfolio can offer a broader segment of the 315 million asthma patients a biologic option regardless of biomarker status, including those with low T2 inflammation levels.

Aiolos Bio CEO Khurem Farooq said: "We believe this transaction demonstrates the tremendous potential of our long-acting anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody AIO-001. By collaborating with GSK, a leader with decades of experience in developing respiratory therapies and a shared commitment to improving patients' lives, we are confident that we can rapidly advance this therapy with the goal of significantly reducing the treatment burden for patients.Undertake.

This acquisition,In addition to a $1 billion upfront payment and $400 million in regulatory milestone payments, GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone payments and tiered royalties owed to Hengrui.. Hengrui rides this wave of TSLP assets made a huge profit!

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