QB3@953 Signs Collaboration Agreement with GSK to Identify Early-Stage Drug Discovery Opportunities

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- QB3@953—a San Francisco incubator created by QB3, a University of California (UC) research institute and biotech accelerator— today announced an agreement with pharmaceutical company GSK to identify and facilitate collaborations to translate early drug target concepts into medicines that benefit patients.

The agreement formalizes a relationship between QB3@953 and GSK's Discovery Partnerships with Academia (DPAc) team and creates a new channel for DPAc to identify early-stage opportunities. The agreement augments DPAc's direct outreach to universities and institutions as well as its Discovery Fast Track program.

Under the terms of the agreement, QB3@953 will work closely with GSK to identify innovators who are exploring targets with therapeutic potential and a defined clinical hypothesis. QB3@953 will also help facilitate collaborations between these researchers and GSK. The new agreement combines the resources and capabilities of GSK with the equipment, lab space and services available at QB3@953 to give the scientists what they need to advance their research toward new medicines.   

"This is about finding innovators with great biology and connecting them with GSK's tremendous drug discovery and development capabilities," said Douglas Crawford, PhD, associate director of QB3 and founder of QB3@953.

"The incubator model is an exciting path for researchers to advance their early target concepts. We expect that our agreement with QB3@953 will identify researchers keen on collaborations that integrate their biological knowledge with the drug development expertise of GSK," said Carolyn Buser-Doepner, Head of DPAc.

About QB3@953

QB3@953 is a full-service San Francisco incubator for life science startups. Launched in 2013 by QB3 Incubator Partners, LLC, the real estate arm of the University of California research institute and biotech accelerator QB3, QB3@953 is located at 953 Indiana St. in the heart of San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. The incubator offers 24,000 square feet of custom-designed space, available in increments as small as a single eight-foot laboratory bench, and can accommodate over 50 early-stage startups. Amenities include fridges, freezers, offices, conference rooms, and an in-house core facility with millions of dollars' worth of the latest equipment. Visit http://qb3at953.com.

About GSK

GSK—one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies—is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com. Learn more about DPAc at www.dpac.gsk.com.

Contact: Kaspar Mossman, [email protected], 415-514-9790

SOURCE QB3@953