Oncodesign buys research centre from GSK

Biotechnology company Oncodesign is set to acquire pharmaceutical company GSK’s François Hyafil Research Centre in Essonne, France.

GSK will provide €35 million ($39.2 million) in support over a four-year period, which Oncodesign will use to integrate the site into its business and will help to secure the continued employment of transferring staff.

A team of 57 drug discovery staff will transfer to Oncodesign.

The research centre was established in 1987 and is now located in a research facility which opened in 2010.

It was most recently a flexible discovery unit that provided scientific expertise and resources to support drug discovery and develop new science within GSK, according to the companies.

The agreement is expected to become “unconditional” at the beginning of December.

Philippe Genne, CEO of Oncodesign, said: “We welcome the François Hyafil Research Centre staff, who are recognised industry-wide. This strategic acquisition of GSK’s research centre is a key next step for Oncodesign and without any dilutive impact for our shareholders.”

He added: “It will allow Oncodesign to boost its drug discovery programmes and experimentation businesses and to position itself as a leading player in the business of full drug discovery services, a new market for Oncodesign.”

Jean-Francois Brochard, general manager of GSK France, said: “GSK has been fully committed to searching for a high-quality research organisation that could acquire the François Hyafil Research Centre, and I am delighted that, through this agreement, the skilled scientists based at the site will have a secure future and can remain part of the science research community in France.”

In 2015, GSK streamlined its research and development (R&D) operations to focus on two major R&D centres: Upper Providence (US) and Stevenage (UK).

As a result of these changes, GSK announced that it would be searching for a “robust organisation” to acquire the research centre in France.