23andMe declared an investment of $300 million on Wednesday, made by GlaxoSmithKline to attain special access to their DNA database.

GSK’s largest division, its pharmaceuticals business, has reportedly been slow in progress in the recent years. Thus, the pact with 23andMe could step up GSK’s medicine manufacturing process and recent reports suggest that the GSK aims to implement the data to research and develop its Parkinson’s drug.  

GSK commented in a news release that a conjoint team of researchers from both the companies intends to find new targets that augment the likelihood of discovering a medicine. The partnership facilitates both companies to get the ongoing initial phase programs under the collaboration and start working on them immediately.

23andMe boasts of a range of early-stage therapeutic research programs for varied disease indications. GSK will put in its LRRK2 inhibitor, which is presently in preclinical development as a prospective treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Anne Wojcicki, CEO and co-founder of 23andme, described the asset as "transformative" for 23andMe. “This collaboration will enable us to deliver on what many customers have been asking for – cures or treatments for diseases,” she added.

As of today, 23andMe  is the only company that has FDA authorization for direct-to-consumer genetic testing and caters to more than 5 million customers. 23andMe and GSK have signed a four-year deal, with a choice to extend for a year.