New deal for GSK

GSK

Another day, yet another deal for GSK. The UK-based pharmaceutical firm has today revealed plans to team-up with biotech firm Prosensa to develop drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an agreement that could be worth GBP£428 million to the Dutch firm.

According to reports, under the terms of the deal, GSK has acquired the rights to develop and sell Prosensa's lead compound, PRO051, an RNA modulating therapeutic which acts by skipping exon 51 of the dystrophin gene. In addition, three other RNA-based compounds, which reportedly seek to treat "specific, but different, sub-populations of patients suffering from DMD," have also been covered in the agreement.

DMD, a severely debilitating neuromuscular disease, reportedly affects one in 3500 newborn boys. The disease makes patients suffer from progressive loss of muscle strength due to the absence of the protein dystrophin, often making them wheelchair-bound before the age of 12. Evidence proves that most sufferers die in early adulthood due to respiratory and cardiac failure.

The alliance suggests good news for both companies and sufferers alike. Upfront, the terms of the agreement will see GSK make an initial payment of GBP£16 million, with Prosensa eligible to receive up to GBP£412 million in milestones if all four compounds are successfully developed.

It is hoped the partnership will not only speed-up the further development but also accelerate the progress of current DMD therapeutics.

In addition to the deal with Prosensa, GSK has also announced plans to partner with the UK Government, the Wellcome Trust and the East of England Development Agency in an effort to develop a biotechnology science park located at the company’s site in Stevenage.

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