GSK and Google just created a £540m bioelectronic health firm.

Google’s parent company and pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline have created a new company to research, develop and commercialise bioelectronic medicines. Galvani Bioelectronics will be based in Stevenage and receive investment of up to £540 million over the next seven years from Alphabet-owned Verily Life Sciences (formerly Google Life Sciences) and GSK. The two companies will take 55 per cent and 45 per cent equity in the new firm. Galvani will develop miniaturised, implantable devices that can monitor nerve signals in the body. These devices could tackle irregular or altered impulses that occur in many chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes and asthma. The system works by using electrical impulses to alter nerve system signals triggered by chronic illnesses. Once developed, the bioelectronic devices are likely to be similar in size of a medical pill and would be implanted using keyhole surgery. The one-off treatment could potentially last decades, doing away with the need for regular medication. Major hurdles for Galvani include powering the devices and ensuring that can function for years inside the body. Continue