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news.Oncodesign has agreed to acquire the François Hyafil Research Centre located in Villebon-sur-Yvette (Essonne) from GSK, part of the Paris Saclay innovation cluster, including transfer of the team of highly qualified drug discovery staff located at the site (anticipated to be 57 employees).
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Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will provide €35 million support over a four year period, and Oncodesign will use this funding to integrate the site and its capabilities into its business and ensure the continued employment of the transferring staff over this period.
The agreement is expected to become unconditional and effective by or on 1st December 2016.
Established in 1987 and located in a new state-of-the-art research facility opened in 2010, the François Hyafil Research Centre was most recently a Flexible Discovery Unit that provided scientific expertise and resources to support drug discovery and incubate new science within GSK. The capabilities within the facility include delivery of medicinal chemistry, biology, in vivo pharmacology and drug metabolism/pharmacokinetics capabilities with experience in many therapeutic areas.
Philippe Genne, CEO and founder of Oncodesign, said: “We welcome the François Hyafil Research Centre staff, who are recognized industry-wide. This strategic acquisition of GSK’s research center is a key next step for Oncodesign and without any dilutive impact for our shareholders. It will allow Oncodesign to boost its Drug Discovery programs and Experimentation businesses and to position itself as a leading player in the business of Full Drug Discovery Services, a new market for Oncodesign.
“This acquisition further accelerates the development of our strategic partnerships, with IPSEN, BMS and UCB. In addition, it will speed up our Nanocyclix based drug discovery internal programs through increased capabilities and productivity in both oncology and non-oncology areas.
"Oncodesign will thus strengthen its scientific expertise in one of the most modern research centres in France in addition to acquiring new and complementary capabilities and expansion in non-oncology space. Together with our presence at the Open Campus IPSEN site, the FHRC integration will further establish our presence in the Paris Saclay science cluster and allow us to benefit from the innovation in this region in complement to that of our Dijon site.”
In 2015, GSK streamlined its R&D organizational operations to consolidate around two major R&D centres: Upper Providence (USA) and Stevenage (UK), with a reduction in the number of satellite R&D sites that support activities at these two central hubs.
As a result of these changes, in September 2015 GSK announced that it would be searching for a robust organization to acquire the François Hyafil Research Centre and continue activities in this location.
Jean-Francois Brochard, General Manager GSK France, said: “GSK has been fully committed to searching for a high quality research organisation that could acquire the François Hyafil Research Centre, and I am delighted that, through this agreement, the skilled scientists based at the site will have a secure future and can remain part of the science research community in France."
Dave Allen, SVP, GSK Pharmaceuticals R&D said. “Oncodesign is a fast-growing French company with innovative technologies and novel programs, which has a robust plan for the long term success of the François Hyafil Research Center.
"Acquisition of the site will allow the scientist’s drug discovery capabilities to continue to be used to advance human medicines. I am pleased that we have secured this agreement with Oncodesign and am confident the team can become an important and integrated part of their company.”