Crucial malaria research to be shared
Crucial malaria research to be shared
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 20, Jan 2010 03:08
By Richard James.
A database containing thousands of potential anti-malaria compounds is set to be made public.
The previously confidential information belonging to the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will now be shared with the world's scientists in an attempt to develop a cure.
In an attempt to speed up the battle against the disease GSK has declared it will publish all the data it has on the compounds after screening more than two million chemicals in its library to pinpoint those with the most potential.
The move is highly unusual due to the highly-competitive field of global pharmaceuticals and has now placed extra pressure on other companies to prioritise research for the neglected disease ravaging the developing world.
In addition to the information of 13,500 molecules, GSK will also invest heavily in its "open lab" to allow independent research to carry out future work.
Announcing the decision to share the data, GSK chief executive Andrew Witty said: "The measures we have announced today are characterised by a determination to be more flexible, open and willing to learn.
"GSK has the capability to make a difference and a genuine appetite to change the landscape of healthcare for the world's poorest people."
Malaria, an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes, is said to kill millions of people every year, with scientists claiming it is currently responsible for one in nine children's deaths in developing countries.