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Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is set to strengthen its drug discovery capacity as it pursues the acquisition of a US developer of proprietary, molecule drugs for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

Commanding a $720 million (£362 million) price tag, it is anticipated that the addition of Sirtris Pharmaceutical will significantly enhance GSK’s metabolic, neurology, immunology and inflammation research capability.

Sirtris will become part of GSK’s Drug Discovery organisation, while continuing to operate its drug discovery unit autonomously from its laboratories in Massachusetts.

The company performs clinical trials for drugs that treat diseases associated with aging, including metabolic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes.

Moncef Slaoui, chairman of Research & Design at GSK sees the acquisition as a continuation of GSK’s strategy to bring new medicines to patients and value to the GSK pipeline. “We intend to retain all Sirtris employees and continue the entrepreneurial and innovative culture they created,” he says.

CEO and vice chair of Sirtris, Dr Westphal, describes the business as, “a dynamic and scientifically-driven organisation” and believes it will benefit from GSK’s research, development and commercialisation capacity. “We expect this transaction will accelerate our vision to target sirtuins to treat diseases of metabolism and ageing and deliver tremendous value to patients, our shareholders and our employees.”

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