GlaxoSmithKline is boosting its own efforts to fight AIDS by agreeing to buy the HIV drug pipeline of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a deal valued at as much as $1.46 billion.

GSK (NYSE: GSK), which has a major presence in North Carolina, disclosed the deal early Friday in London.

“These acquisitions strengthen our leadership and innovation in HIV, one of our core areas of scientific research at GSK,” said David Redfern, Chief Strategy Officer at GSK and chairman of ViiV Healthcare, a GSK company which is focused on AIDS, said: The addition of two potential first-in-class late-stage treatments and several promising early clinical development programs strengthens ViiV Healthcare’s pipeline and provides us with further new opportunities for growth.”

In May, GSK announced it would partner with UNC-Chapel Hill to form a new company to discover a cure for AIDS. GSK is investing $20 million in the venture.

That move came just three days after GSK Chair and CEO Andrew Witty decided not to spin off the ViiV business.

The Bristol Myers-Squibb deal includes in actuality two agreements:

  • Acquiring late-stage HIV research and development assets
  • Acquiring a portfolio of preclinical and discovery-stage HIV research assets

GSK is making a $317 million upfront payment for the late-stage compounds and research.

Among them is fostemsavir, which is already in Phase 3 clinical trials and has received “Breakthrough Therapy Designation” from the U.S. FDA. A filing for regulatory approval is expected in 2018, according to GSK.

As The London Telepgraph noted: “Fostemsavir belongs to a class of HIV drugs called entry and fusion inhibitors. These inhibitors block HIV from getting into and infecting certain cells of the immune system, preventing it from multiplying and reducing the amount of it in the body.”

Two other potential drugs are also part of the first deal. Another $518 million could be paid based on development, commercial sales milestones and sales royalties.

Three early-stage compounds are part of the other deal. GSK is paying $33 million up front for those with another $578 million possible based on development and sales.

GSK said researchers involved in the Bristol Myers-Squibb programs will be offered the chance to transfer to ViiV Healthcare.

“These potential therapies have novel modes of action and would offer significant new treatment options to patients with HIV,” GSK said. “In addition to being developed as standalone treatment options, these new assets complement ViiV Healthcare’s existing portfolio and therefore offer multiple opportunities for development as combination therapies.”