GlaxoSmithKline forms agreement with Golden Helix
Under the terms of the agreement, GlaxoSmithKline has acquired a 15 percent interest in Golden Helix, a privately held company. The decision to invest came after GlaxoSmithKline collaborated for two years in the development of HelixTree, Golden Helix's proprietary software.
"The diseases that affect millions of people, such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and diabetes are likely influenced by a number of interacting genes," said Christophe Lambert, CEO of Golden Helix. "To make things more complex, the
environment affects you as well -- it's both nature and nurture. HelixTree delivers the statistical power to unravel these complex interactions. What makes it different is its ability to sift through variables both genetic and environmental to find those that are relevant to clinical outcomes."
"Recent advances in molecular genetics techniques have led to an enormous increase in the amount of data collected," said Allen Roses, Senior Vice President of Genetics Research at GlaxoSmithKline. "By using HelixTree, we hope to more rapidly identify the genetic factors that contribute to the safety and efficacy of our compounds in development."