Singapore- GlaxoSmithKline has made a $300 million equity investment in the Silicon Valley gene testing company 23andMe as part of a deal that pulls it close to the consumer genetics pioneer. The partners are contributing preclinical programs to a 50-50 collaboration that will use 23andMe’s genotypic and phenotypic data to accelerate progress. 

The agreement features multiple components. To get the relationship started, 23andMe and GSK are bringing existing programs into the collaboration. 23andMe is proposing to include its early-stage programs, while GSK is contributing its LRRK2 inhibitor. GSK thinks 23andMe’s database of people who know their LRRK2 variant status will help the Parkinson’s program enrol patients on the way to clinical proof of concept.

GSK and 23andMe will also work on earlier-stage programs. The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets.

These activities are set to take place over the next four years.