Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline (IW 1000/124) announced on August 1 that it will form a joint venture with Google's parent company Alphabet to research and develop so-called bioelectronic medicines.
GSK has agreed with Verily Life Sciences (formerly Google Life Sciences) to create a new company called Galvani Bioelectronics.
The venture will be headquartered in Britain and will receive a total investment of up to $714 million over seven years.
GSK will hold a majority of 55% in the group and Verily will have a 45% stake.
"Bioelectronic medicine is a relatively new scientific field that aims to tackle a wide range of chronic diseases using miniaturized, implantable devices that can modify electrical signals that pass along nerves in the body, including irregular or altered impulses that occur in many illnesses," the statement added.
"GSK has been active in this field since 2012 and believes certain chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and asthma could potentially be treated using these devices."
That investment will be ploughed into facilities in Barnard Castle in northeastern England, Ware in the southeast, and Montrose in Scotland.
This announcement comes one week after GSK revealed plans to invest £275 million into three of its British manufacturing sites, shrugging off worries over economic fallout arising from Brexit.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2016
