GSK TO COLLABORATE ON RESEARCH WITH IRISH UNIVERSITY

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced plans to collaborate on a research project on gastrointestinal diseases with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre of the University College Cork, Ireland. This project will involve an investment of up to 13.7 million euros.

Researchers from GSK's Neurology and GI Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery will work closely with the university to identify new drug targets for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

GSK's existing manufacturing operation in Currabinny, County Cork, which employs more than 500 people, will be closely involved in the project. The Cork facility has already invested significantly in R&D activity in recent years.

The joint venture will span three major areas of research: exploratory scientific research, bench-to-bedside medical exploratory studies with known molecular entities and drug discovery using GSK technology.