Simmons & Simmons has advised GlaxoSmithKline (‘GSK’), the UK’s largest pharmaceutical company, on its open science collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute in the aim to forge new scientific discoveries.

Under the terms of the agreement GSK and the Francis Crick Institute, the UK’s newest biomedical research facility, will contribute in-kind resources, including lab space and the scientific expertise of 20 staff, to the collaboration. GSK will also provide important research tools including access to its non-development compound library, key antibodies, reagents and technologies, which will be used to address key questions in disease biology.

A number of projects within this collaboration exploring diseases including HIV, malaria and cancer are expected to start in 2015 with a further 10-15 projects expected in 2016.

This is the first collaboration to be established between the Francis Crick Institute and a pharmaceutical company.

The Simmons & Simmons team was led by partner Michael Gavey and associate Lydia Torne.

Commenting on the agreement, Michael said: “we are proud to have assisted GSK, a UK industry leader, on this ground breaking collaboration. Open science presents opportunities and challenges, and it is causing academia and industry to think outside their traditional collaborative models.”

International Life Sciences Sector Head Jacques-Antoine Robert added, “advising GSK on this project is an excellent demonstration of our international life sciences group’s depth of specialist expertise and commitment to the sector. We thrive on supporting our clients to forge the future of their industry.”