GlaxoSmithKline And Metabolon Collaborate On Metabolomics Profiling
By Cyndi Root
Metabolon announced in a press release that it has entered a strategic partnership with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Metabalon is a contract research organization (CRO) that specializes in metabolomics research. Under the agreement, GSK will have access to Metabalon’s metabolomics profiling platform, its DiscoveryHD4 platform, and its bioinformatics and visualization tools.
John Ryals, Metabolon President and CEO said, “We believe that embedding metabolomic profiling capabilities at the various stages of R&D is important to enhance the phenotypic ‘picture’ with the aim of yielding translatable, meaningful results. Gaps of knowledge can be bridged through the understanding metabolomics provides, which could lead to better targets, higher quality molecules, faster time to the clinic, and reduced risk and cost.”
Metabolomics Profiling Platform
Metabolon’s metabolomics profiling platform provides investigators with analyses of biological samples to define pathways, drug action mechanisms, and biomarkers. The company provides a suite of tests that GSK intends to employ in its drug development efforts. For GSK’s cancer investigations, Metabolon’s focus on oncology is well suited. Metabolomics profiling will help GSK discriminate between tumors, detect metastasis, and assess chemotherapy toxicities. With advanced analysis, GSK is positioned to bring drugs to market faster.
GSK R & D Efforts
The new collaboration with Metabolon is another indication of GSK’s commitment to explore different channels for R & D efforts. In March of 2014, GSK announced in a press release that it had formed a public-private research initiative with the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. The new research project is called the Centre for Therapeutic Target Validation (CTTV). It intends to focus on data mining and genome sequencing to accelerate the drug discovery process.
Like its work with Metabolon, GSK will focus its efforts with CTTV on validating targets and biomarkers. The company says that about 90 percent of compounds enter clinical trials without demonstrated safety and efficacy because the biological target is not well understood. Patrick Vallance, President of Pharmaceuticals R&D at GSK, said, “Target validation is one of the greatest challenges in drug discovery. We need to understand better the mechanisms in our body related to disease to improve how we can develop the most effective medicines.”
GSK is also holding a competition for academic scientists called the 2014 Discovery Fast Track Challenge. The program is intended to help researchers bring early-stage research into development programs. GSK began the program in 2013 in the U.S. and Canada, so this year’s repeat challenge and expansion to Europe indicates it was a successful first year.