GSK buys Elsie to expand oligonucleotide pipeline

UK pharma major GSK (LSE: GSK) has turned a research collaboration with Elsie Biotechnologies into a full takeover of the privately-held San Diago, USA- based biotech.

GSK has paid a modest $50 million to acquire Elsie, which is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of oligonucleotide therapeutics, a therapy area of increasing interest to the British company.

Oligonucleotides have a unique ability to modulate gene expression, making them an attractive modality to address a significant proportion of therapeutic targets that are not amenable to traditional small molecules or biologics.