GSK Collaborates with Flagship Startup to Discover New Parkinson’s Treatments
Vesalius Therapeutics, a startup backed by Flagship Pioneering, has entered into a strategic agreement with GSK, as revealed in a recent announcement. This collaboration allows GSK to leverage Vesalius’ innovative technology in the pursuit of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
As part of this partnership, GSK will provide Vesalius with a total of million in upfront and equity payments. Vesalius will take the lead in discovering drugs tailored for Parkinson’s disease and one additional neurodegenerative ailment that remains unnamed. The deal also grants GSK rights for the development and commercialization of a preclinical small molecule drug aimed at treating Parkinson’s, alongside options for progressing other related programs.
Vesalius stands to potentially earn an additional 0 million if it meets specific development and commercial milestones successfully.
This agreement signifies a positive change in trajectory for Vesalius, which had to reduce its workforce by 40% in September 2022. Established in 2019, the company was co-founded by Christopher Austin, previously the director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and Doug Cole, a managing partner at Flagship.
Olivia Offner, a spokesperson for Vesalius and Flagship, stated, “We have been focused on advancing our platform to generate breakthrough treatments for common diseases. This announcement with GSK further validates our platform and its potential for impact.”
Earlier in 2022, Vesalius secured million in funding from Flagship. The startup described its technology as capable of addressing “genetically and biologically distinct diseases,” without detailing specific conditions. Presently, Vesalius is exploring treatments for autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and various neurological disorders.
Kaivan Khavandi, senior vice president and global head of respiratory/immunology research and development at GSK, noted, “Using the Vesalius platform to understand underlying drivers of such neurodegenerative diseases and select optimal therapeutic interventions underscores our focus on leveraging advanced technology to identify and target the root causes of disease.”
This summer, GSK announced an alliance with Flagship to discover new medicines and vaccines, indicating a financial commitment of up to 0 million for as many as ten novel programs.
The collaboration with GSK is part of a broader trend of partnerships between Flagship and larger pharmaceutical companies, including agreements with Pfizer and Novo Nordisk.
In June, Pfizer engaged ProFound Therapeutics, another startup from Flagship, in the quest for new obesity treatment options. Novo Nordisk has established collaborations with three Flagship ventures, Omega Therapeutics, Cellarity, and Metaphore Biotechnologies, targeting potential obesity and MASH therapies.