GlaxoSmithKline names 2014 Discovery Fast Track Challenge winners

GlaxoSmithKline has named the winners of its second annual Discovery Fast Track Challenge, a scheme aimed at strengthening its ties to the world of academic research.

A total of 14 winning proposals were selected from 428 entries across North America and Europe. These scientists will now work with the company's Discovery Partnerships with Academia (DPAc) and Molecular Discovery Research teams to test their hypotheses, making use of GlaxoSmithKline's extensive library of compounds.

The proposals cover a wide range of approaches and disease areas, including new antibiotics and antivirals, or new therapies for cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

If a compound shows promise during these investigations, the researchers in question could be offered a formal partnership with GlaxoSmithKline to develop them into commercial products. The first compound screens are expected to be completed by mid-2015.

Duncan Holmes, European head of DPAc, said: "We believe there is a real advantage in bringing together the best in academia and industry to help take innovative ideas forward in drug discovery."

The company was recently ranked as the top-performing organisation in the 2014 Access to Medicines Index, which evaluates firms on their efforts to improve access to treatments and healthcare options in developing countries.