Gilead Sciences and Yale to ally on cancer research

Gilead Sciences has signed an agreement with Yale School of Medicine that will see the organisations conduct joint research into new cancer treatments.

The deal will see the partners create a multi-disciplinary research programme focusing on the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the disease, developing new treatment targets and methods of overcoming drug resistance.

Initially spanning four years, the alliance will involve a $40 million (24.78 million pounds) investment by Gilead in research support and basic science infrastructure, which will increase to $100 million if it chooses to exercise its option to extend the deal to ten years.

The pharmaceutical company will also have the first option to license any new treatments that result from the partnership.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, Gilead's chief scientific officer and executive vice-president for research and development, said: "I am confident this collaboration will lead to important advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of cancer."

This comes after the company agreed a deal last month to acquire Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, a specialist in the areas of cancer and inflammatory diseases.