GSK sets up new R&D centre
pharmafile | June 1, 2005 | News story | Research and Development |
GlaxoSmithKline has set up its eighth R&D Centre of Excellence which will focus on building partnerships with biotech firms, academia and other pharma companies.
The new centre differs from other units which concentrated on developing medicines in specific therapy areas but like them it will operate as an independent business entity.
GSK created its centres of excellence for drug discovery (CEDDs) with the aim of encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset and overcoming R&D productivity problems that have blighted itself and rival companies.
GSK's latest centre will combine an existing initiative to encourage business partnerships with the CEDD's R&D concept and look to forge deals with biotech companies, small to mid-sized firms and academia. It will also look to license out certain non-core projects and provide scope for GSK to learn about and incorporate alternative scientific and drug discovery approaches.
Last year GSK revealed that parts of its R&D effort were coming under pressure as its in-licensing drive had unexpectedly resulted in a high number of projects. Senior executives were asked to find opportunities to license out non-core programmes to unlock an extra source of income.
GSK said its own discoveries are generating more targets than it can support, and aims to share some of these assets with other groups, thus speeding up the development of projects which would otherwise have to wait for development.
The CEDD will be headed by senior vice president Maxine Gowen, who will be supported by a small management team – Gowen previously served as managing partner and president of SR One, GSK's venture capital business.
The team will have its head office in Philadelphia but will have scope to carry out work around the globe.
GSK reorganised its R&D pipeline around six CEDDs following the merger of Smithkline Beecham and GlaxoWellcome in 2001. Its first six CEDDs focused on the progression of compounds in the middle-stage of the pipeline. In 2003 a seventh CEDD was added to work on the development of biopharmaceuticals
