GSK Partners with CRISPR Pioneers to Accelerate Drug Discovery Through Genomics Innovation

As the most advanced gene-editing tool currently available, CRISPR has been applied in clinical medical fields such as oncology and assisted reproduction. But can this cutting-edge technology also be used innovatively in new drug development? This is a strategic initiative that Dr. Hal Barron has been planning since joining GSK as President of Research and Development in 2018.

In 2018, GSK successfully partnered with 23andMe, a pioneer in consumer genetic testing, to establish a four-year research and development collaboration. Leveraging 23andMe’s genomic and phenotypic databases, GSK aimed to identify innovative drug targets and recruit suitable patients for clinical trials. This partnership marked the starting point of its technology strategy.

This year, Hal Barron further advanced this strategic initiative by partnering with two “CRISPR pioneers,” Dr. Jennifer Doudna and Dr. Jonathan Weissman, on a five-year, $67 million collaboration to establish a state-of-the-art CRISPR technology laboratory—the Laboratory for Genomics Research (LGR)—dedicated to exploring how genetic mutations cause disease and to developing CRISPR-based approaches to accelerate novel drug discovery.

The new Laboratory for Genomics Research (LGR) represents a novel collaborative model that brings together professionals from industry and academia to jointly conduct projects. The laboratory will focus on fields such as immunology, oncology, and neuroscience, while also integrating GSK’s artificial intelligence and machine learning teams into its R&D framework. Ultimately, this R&D process will deepen researchers’ understanding of genetics, enable the discovery of new targets, and create new technologies for application in the future pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Barron stated that technology is central to GSK’s innovation strategy, with CRISPR being one of the most important technologies of our time. “Under the expert guidance of Jennifer and Jonathan, I am confident that this laboratory will significantly advance our scientific understanding of the relationship between genes and disease, helping us discover better medicines more rapidly.”

Professor Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) stated, “Over the past seven years, CRISPR has transformed academic research, but prior to the establishment of LGR, we had not concentrated our efforts on advancing the application of CRISPR in innovative research. LGR is dedicated to creating a space that fosters collaboration between cutting-edge science and robust technology, which will facilitate the development of next-generation therapeutics. I believe the potential of innovative science is beyond imagination.”

References:

[1] GSK joins forces with the University of California to advance genomic research and improve drug discovery

[2] University of California CRISPR researchers form drug discovery alliance with pharma giant