Blueprint
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For
period ending 25 July
2018
GlaxoSmithKline plc
(Name
of registrant)
980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or
will
file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form
20-F x Form 40-F
--
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes
No x
Issued:
Wednesday 25 July 2018, London UK - LSE Announcement
GSK and 23andMe sign agreement to leverage genetic insights for the
development of novel medicines
Multi-year collaboration
expected to identify novel drug
targets, tackle new subsets of disease
and enable rapid progression of
clinical programmes
GSK and
23andMe today unveiled an exclusive four-year collaboration that
will focus on research and development of innovative new medicines
and potential cures, using human genetics as the basis for
discovery. The collaboration will combine 23andMe's large-scale
genetic resources and advanced data science skills, with the
scientific and medical knowledge and commercialisation expertise of
GSK. The goal of the collaboration is to gather insights and
discover novel drug targets driving disease progression and develop
therapies for serious unmet medical needs based on those
discoveries.
With over 5 million customers, 23andMe offers
those with an interest in genetics the opportunity to learn more
about their personal genetic profile. 23andMe customers can also
choose to participate in research and contribute their information
to a unique and dynamic database, which is now the world's largest
genetic and phenotypic resource.
GSK
brings extensive drug discovery and development capabilities across
a broad range of diseases and modalities, including small molecule,
biopharmaceuticals and cell and gene therapies. It will apply its
world-class technologies, including access to additional data
sources, in-house target validation and genetics expertise, and
utilise its manufacturing, commercial operations and scale to
support partner activities across research and
development.
Dr. Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President R&D,
GSK, said; "We are excited about this unique collaboration
as we know that drug targets with genetic validation
have a significantly higher chance of ultimately demonstrating
benefit for patients and becoming medicines. Partnering with
23andMe, an organisation whose vision and capabilities are
transforming the understanding of how genes influence health, will
help to shift our research and development organisation to be
'driven by genetics', and increase the impact GSK can have on
patients."
Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder of 23andMe, said; "This
collaboration will enable us to deliver on what many customers have
been asking for -- cures or treatments for diseases. By
leveraging the genetic and phenotypic information provided by
consenting 23andMe customers and combining it with GSK's incredible
expertise and resources in drug discovery, we believe we can more
quickly make treating and curing diseases a reality."
Together,
GSK and 23andMe will focus on translating genetic and phenotypic
data into R&D activities that will:
●
Improve target selection to
allow safer, more effective 'precision' medicines to be
discovered. Genetic data can
significantly improve our understanding of diseases, their pathways
and mechanisms, supporting the design and development of
more targeted medicines.
Use of genetic data in selecting drug targets can increase both the
probability of success in a particular indication and avoid
unwanted safety risks.
●
Support identification of
patient subgroups that are
more likely to respond to targeted treatments. Scale is critical for the detection of
genetic effects in smaller subsets of
diseases and patients. With over 80% of 23andMe's customer
base consenting to participate in research, their aggregate and
de-identified data could help
enable the discovery of a significant
number of novel associations from a diverse range of
people,
which would not otherwise be possible.
●
Allow more effective
identification and recruitment of patients for clinical
studies. The ability to
identify and invite patients with a particular disease, and in some
case specific genetic subgroups, to participate in studies that are relevant to
them could significantly shorten recruitment and reduce clinical
development timelines, allowing medicines to be delivered to
patients more efficiently.
Deal Terms
Under
the terms of the deal, GSK and 23andMe have entered into a
four-year collaboration with the option to extend for a fifth year
under which GSK will become 23andMe's exclusive collaborator for
drug target discovery programmes. During this time, the companies
will use 23andMe's rich database and proprietary statistical
analytics to fuel drug target discovery, with the goal of jointly
discovering novel targets that can progress into development. A
joint GSK-23andMe drug discovery team will use their combined
resources to identify new targets and prioritise based on strength
of the biological hypothesis, possibility to find a medicine, and
clinical opportunity.
To
allow work to commence immediately, the deal enables both companies
to bring existing early stage programmes within the collaboration.
23andMe currently has a portfolio of early stage therapeutic
research programmes across a wide range of disease indications,
which will be assessed for inclusion. GSK will contribute its LRRK2
inhibitor, which is currently in preclinical development as a
potential treatment for Parkinson's disease. This programme is
expected to significantly progress by leveraging 23andMe's large
base of consented customers who are aware of their LRRK2 variant
status as a result of 23andMe's FDA-authorised genetic health
reports. Together, GSK and 23andMe are expected to more effectively
target and rapidly recruit patients with defined LRRK2 mutations in
order to reach clinical proof of concept.
All activities within the collaboration will initially be co-funded
(50%/50%), with either company having certain rights to reduce its
funding share for any collaboration programme. It is expected that
this collaboration will jointly progress a number of targets per
year, with either company able to independently progress additional
targets identified within the collaboration. GSK will also have the right to work with 23andMe
to analyse 23andMe's database for validation of GSK's existing
therapeutic portfolio as well as leverage 23andMe's capabilities
for clinical trial recruitment. Both GSK and 23andMe will share in
the proceeds from new treatments and medicines arising from the
collaboration.
Additionally,
GSK has made a $300M equity investment in 23andMe.
Protecting what's important
23andMe
customers are in control of their data. Participating in 23andMe's
research is always voluntary and requires customers to
affirmatively consent to participate. For those who do consent,
their information will be de-identified, so no individual will be
identifiable to GSK.
The
continued protection of customers' data and privacy is the highest
priority for both GSK and 23andMe. Both companies have stringent
security protections in place when it comes to collecting, storing
and transferring information about research participants. 23andMe
employs software, hardware and physical security measures to
protect the computers where data is stored and information will
only be transferred using encryption to offer maximum
security.
Scientific engagement
To
ensure broader, ongoing engagement within the scientific community,
GSK and 23andMe intend to publish results of research conducted
within this collaboration, to allow these learnings to be used to
guide future research. 23andMe will also continue to provide data
and analyses to academics and researchers in areas outside of
target discovery.
GSK - a science-led global
healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more,
feel better, live longer. For further information please visit
www.gsk.com
About 23andMe
23andMe, Inc. is the leading consumer genetics and research
company. Founded in 2006, the mission of the company is to help
people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. The
company was named by MIT Technology Review in its "50 Smartest
Companies, 2017" list, and featured as Fast Company's #2 Most
Innovative Health Company in 2018. 23andMe has millions of
customers worldwide, with over 80 percent of customers consented to
participate in research. 23andMe, Inc. is located in Mountain View,
CA. More information is available at www.23andMe.com.
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GSK enquiries:
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Simon
Steel
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+44 (0) 20 8047 5502
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(London)
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Tim
Foley
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+44 (0) 20 8047 5502
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(London)
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US Media enquiries:
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Sarah
Spencer
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+1 215 751 3335
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(Philadelphia)
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Mary
Anne Rhyne
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+1 919 483 0492
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(North Carolina)
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Analyst/Investor enquiries:
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Sarah
Elton-Farr
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+44 (0) 20 8047 5194
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(London)
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Danielle
Smith
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+44 (0) 20 8047 2406
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(London)
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James
Dodwell
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+44 (0) 20 8047 2406
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(London)
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Jeff
McLaughlin
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+1 215 751 7002
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(Philadelphia)
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23andMe
enquiries:
Press@23andMe.com
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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statementsGSK
cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or
projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement,
are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors
include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D
Principal risks and uncertainties in the company's Annual Report on
Form 20-F for 2017.
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Registered in England & Wales:
No. 3888792
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Registered Office:
980 Great West Road
Brentford, Middlesex
TW8 9GS
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
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GlaxoSmithKline plc
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(Registrant)
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Date: July
25, 2018
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By: VICTORIA
WHYTE
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Victoria Whyte
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Authorised
Signatory for and on
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behalf
of GlaxoSmithKline plc
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