Yahoo Finance GSK to Buy Private Biotech, Strengthen Respiratory Pipeline
GSK GSK has entered into an agreement to acquire private biotech Aiolos, which makes medicines to treat certain respiratory and inflammatory conditions.
The acquisition will strengthen GSK’s growing pipeline of respiratory biologics by adding Aiolos’ lead pipeline candidate, AIO-001, a long-acting antibody targeting the TSLP pathway. The pathway is a clinically validated target in the treatment of asthma. AIO-001 is expected to enter phase II development for treating asthma soon. Aiolos acquired exclusive rights to AIO-001 outside China from Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals.
For the deal, GSK will make an upfront payment of $1 billion, while Aiolos will also be entitled to receive $400 million in potential regulatory milestone payments.
GSK’s stock has risen 14.5% in the past year against a decline of 11.1% for the industry.
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GSK boasts a deep portfolio of marketed and investigational respiratory products, which can treat asthma patients with high levels of eosinophils or high T2 inflammation. Adding AIO-001 can help GSK reach a broader population of asthma patients, including those living with asthma regardless of biomarker status and also those with low T2 inflammation. Early data from studies on AIO-001 have proved initial safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and biological activity in asthma.
Additionally, AIO-001 has the potential to redefine the standard of care as it can be developed as a therapy for longer dosing intervals, such as every six months.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
GSK currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
GSK PLC Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus
GSK PLC Sponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | GSK PLC Sponsored ADR Quote
Some better-ranked biotech companies are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals REGN, Sarepta Therapeutics SRPT and Puma Biotechnology PBYI, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the past 60 days, estimates for Regeneron’s 2024 earnings have risen from $41.57 per share to $43.66 per share. Regeneron’s stock has surged 29.1% in the past year.
Regeneron beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 12.34%.
Estimates for Sarepta’s 2024 earnings per share have increased from 46 cents to $1.72 over the past 60 days. SRPT’s stock has inched up 0.5% in the past year.
Sarepta beat estimates in the last four quarters, delivering an earnings surprise of 48.67%, on average.
Estimates for Puma Biotechnology’s 2024 earnings per share have increased from 62 cents to 69 cents over the past 60 days. PBYI’s stock has risen 0.4% in the past year.
Puma Biotechnology beat estimates in three out of the last four quarters while missing in one, delivering an earnings surprise of 76.55% on average.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (GSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (SRPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
