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LONDON — GSK said Tuesday it would purchase the asthma-focused drug developer Aiolos Bio for $1 billion upfront, the latest in a string of pharma acquisitions that are bolstering hopes for the industry’s year ahead.

The deal includes up to another $400 million in payments if certain milestones are met.

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Aiolos was launched just last year, based in both San Francisco and London. The company, which announced a $245 million Series A round in October, has been readying a Phase 2 trial of its candidate AIO-001 in adult asthma.

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