GSK closes US$50m acquisition with Elsie Biotechnologies Inc

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc has acquired Elsie Biotechnologies Inc, a San Diego-based biotechcompany dedicated to unlocking the potential of oligonucleotide therapeutics, for up to US$50m. Under the agreement, GSK will integrate Elsie’s oligonucleotide discovery, synthesis, and delivery technologies to boost its platform R&D capabilities. The acquisition follows a successful research collaboration with Elsie, announced in July 2023, in which GSK was able to explore and validate the technology.

“We have already made great strides in oligonucleotide drug development through our work in chronic hepatitis B and steatotic liver disease, and are thrilled to […] accelerate a next-generation oligonucleotide platform,” said Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK. “By bringing together Elsie’s expertise and our internal capabilities, we can design and develop oligonucleotides for difficult-to-treat diseases of scale with larger patient populations.”

Data generated with the Elsie platform, combined with GSK’s expertise in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, will support the development of predictive models for future oligonucleotide design.
The acquisition is aligned to GSK’s approach of uniting Science and Technology, including advancing novel platform technologies, to accelerate drug development and ultimately deliver innovative medicines to patients, better and faster. Currently GSK is advancing oligonucleotide therapeutics in chronic hepatitis B and steatotic liver disease as well as other therapeutic areas beyond liver disease.