NEWS: GSK is to reveal previously confidential data on thousands of potential anti-malaria compounds

29 January 2010
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the world’s second biggest drug company, is to reveal previously confidential data on thousands of potential anti-malaria compounds.

In addition to this, the company is to put millions into an 'Open Lab' for independent research teams. The company has 13,500 molecules which have been tested against the parasite which causes malaria.

The latest announcement by GSK chief executive Andrew Witty, follows an earlier decision to set up a "patent pool" where information about patented drugs could be shared.

In an interview for BBC World News, Malaria Consortium’s Dr Mallika Kaviratne, welcomed this announcement, saying it could boost access to medicines for developing countries, as resistance to existing drugs was an important issue.

She added: "The release of 13,500 molecules made to the public is very important - we have nothing else in the pipeline - and new drugs need to be developed, but they're expensive."

To read the BBC article go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8470087.stm