When pharmaceutical companies publish large datasets: an abundance of riches or fool's gold?

Abstract

The recent announcement that GlaxoSmithKline have released a huge tranche of whole-cell malaria screening data to the public domain, accompanied by a corresponding publication, raises some issues for consideration before this exemplar instance becomes a trend. We have examined the data from a high level, by studying the molecular properties, and consider the various alerts presently in use by major pharma companies. We not only acknowledge the potential value of such data but also raise the issue of the actual value of such datasets released into the public domain. We also suggest approaches that could enhance the value of such datasets to the community and theoretically offer an immediate benefit to the search for leads for other neglected diseases.