Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
A $300M equity collaboration that gave GSK exclusive rights to mine 23andMe's genetic database of over 5 million consented participants for drug discovery, sharing development costs and revenues on jointly discovered programs across oncology and immunology. The four-year deal bet on genetics-driven target discovery improving R&D success rates.
GlaxoSmithKline strikes $300 million deal with 23andMe for genetics-driven drug research using consumer DNA database
Drug giant Glaxo teams up with DNA testing company 23andMe investing $300M for four-year drug discovery collaboration
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GSK and 23andMe entered a four-year exclusive collaboration to leverage 23andMe's genetic database of 5+ million consented research participants to identify novel drug targets and develop new medicines. GSK invested $300M in 23andMe for an equity stake and the companies agreed to share development costs and revenues on jointly discovered programs. The collaboration aimed to use human genetics data to improve drug discovery success rates.
1.9M US cases/yr
Solid tumors encompass all non-hematologic cancers. IO checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, and ADCs have transformed treatment across multiple tumor types. Pan-tumor approvals (e.g., MSI-H, NTRK) enable biomarker-driven approaches.
IO combinations, ADCs, and bispecifics driving growth. Tumor-agnostic approvals expanding. Key platforms: Merck (Keytruda), BMS (Opdivo), Roche (Tecentriq), Daiichi Sankyo/AZ (Enhertu).
$80.0B Global autoimmune therapeutics
Autoimmune diseases encompass >80 conditions where the immune system attacks the body. The market is dominated by anti-TNFs, IL-inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and emerging cell therapies.
Anti-TNF (adalimumab, infliximab), IL-17/23 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, B-cell depleting therapies. CAR-T for severe autoimmune diseases emerging. Key players: AbbVie, J&J, Pfizer, Roche, BMS.
GSK invested $300M equity for a four-year exclusive collaboration leveraging 23andMe's 5M+ consented-participant genetic database for novel drug-target discovery.
GSK exercised its option to extend the exclusive target-discovery period for a fifth and final year through July 2023 for a one-time $50M payment. Lead joint immuno-oncology asset GSK'608 (anti-CD96) was dosing in a Phase 1 trial in combination with dostarlimab.
The five-year exclusive collaboration concluded and was replaced by a non-exclusive one-year data license ($20M upfront). New GSK-initiated programs would be owned solely by GSK; 23andMe took royalty options on three prior programs. The collaboration had yielded 50+ early-stage programs but only one Phase 1 candidate (anti-CD96).
23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23, 2025 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Missouri) following a 2023 data breach (~7M profiles) and a ~99% collapse in valuation, initiating a sale process for the business.
The genetics-driven discovery thesis produced limited clinical output (one Phase 1 anti-CD96 asset across 50+ programs) and GSK declined to continue co-development. With 23andMe's 2025 bankruptcy, GSK's original $300M equity investment was largely impaired.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / 23andMe, Inc. (this deal) | 2018 | $300M | 37 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Theravance, Inc. | 2012 | $213M | 82 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Tesaro Inc. | 2018 | $5.1B | 79 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Pfizer Inc. (Consumer Healthcare Division) | 2018 | $12.7B | 76 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Novartis Consumer Healthcare JV | 2018 | $13.0B | 74 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / ID Biomedical Corporation | 2005 | $1.4B | 64 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Vir Biotechnology Inc. | 2020 | $595M | 51 |
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