Francis Weyzig
Amsterdam, October 2004
Summary
Business description
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical corporations that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets branded human health products. Headquarters: UK, with additional operational headquarters in the USA Global presence: about 160 countries Primary markets: USA, France, Germany, UK, Italy and Japan Employees: approximately 103,000 GSK key figures for 2003 (in £ million) Sales 21,441 Materials and production costs 4,188 Marketing and administration 7,563 R&D expenditures 2,770 Operating income 6,920 Net profit 4,765 GSK has two main business divisions, pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare. This profile deals with the pharmaceuticals division, which generates 85% of GSK’s sales. The five largest selling GSK products are Seretide/Advair for asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Paxil/Seroxat and Wellbutrin, both antidepression drugs; Avandia/Avadamet for type 2 diabetes; and the antibiotic Augmentin. Each of these drugs generated above £800 million of sales in 2003. GSK produces a broad range of products of special importance to developing countries, including: Anti-malaria drugs Zentel (albendazole), for de-worming and the prevention of lymphatic filariasis Pentosam, against leishmaniasis Anti-retrovirals (ARVs) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis drugs Vaccines for developing countries
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
CSR refers to the responsibility of a company for the social, ecological and economic impacts of its operations. GSK follows a proactive and comprehensive CSR approach. In 2003, the company formally adopted a set of Corporate Responsibility Principles. The company is highly transparent about its CSR policies and has a clear governance structure on CSR. Reporting about CSR performance is still limited on some issues, such as employment practices and internal