In an attempt to bolster its vaccine franchise, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to acquire Affinivax for a US$2.1 B upfront payment and up to US$1.2 B in potential development milestones. The deal provides GSK full access to Affinivax’s lead vaccine candidate, AFX3772, for pneumococcal disease which was developed using the biotech’s proprietary MAPS™ (Multiple Antigen-Presenting System) platform. The acquisition will further strengthen GSK’s vaccines franchise, which already has a marketed pneumococcal vaccine, Synflorix™, that has recently suffered COVID-related headwinds.