UCSF is on a roll. The University announced another R&D pact with a member of Big Pharma - this time with Sanofi. The agreement is for Sanofi and UCSF researchers to work on finding new treatments. The agreement is structured in two parts.
Under part one, the two will collaborate in pharmacological science and in the oncology, aging, diabetes, and inflammation therapeutic areas. Under part two, the company and university will focus on accelerating research through the clinical proof of concept stage. Sanofi emphasizes that it is not expecting to just "buy things" from the univeristy, rather it is colaborating to create new things to help patients.
Sanofi will become the first industry supporter of UCSF's long-standing Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR). This program provides basic research grants to selected applicants. Historically, research started under the PBBR has drawn an additional $300 M in follow on funding and spawned three start up companies.
UCSF has now established similar agreements with Pfizer, Merck, GE, Bayer and Roche's Genentech. See WSJ Health blog and Fierce Biotech.
Posted by Bruce Lehr Jan 13th 2011.
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