• Contact Us

Huge Change for GSK as Innovative Pharma and Consumer Health Divisions Split

on Monday, 14 January 2019.

GSK, the UK's biggest pharma company, has agreed a deal with Pfizer, the US company, to merge their consumer healthcare units to become the world's biggest seller of over-the-counter medicines.

GSK would own 68% of the new company, with Pfizer owning the rest. The new company would be the world's biggest in the space, with over 7% of the market. It would contain brands such as Panadol, Robitussin and Sensodyne.

The deal with Pfizer would see GSK split in two within three years, with the merged consumer health division having a separate listing on the London Stock Exchange.

This measure will enable GSK to focus on developing a pipeline of experimental drugs that it considers most profitable.

Most of GSK's £24bn debt would be put on the consumer healthcare company, leaving more money for the innovative company to invest in its target areas of oncology, genetics, vaccines, HIV and respiratory diseases.

This represents a big shake-up for the company, which had previously resisted calls from investors for this change, and comes 18 months since Emma Walmsley took over as CEO. She has already replaced the entire senior management team and refocused the spending on R&D while also cutting costs.

The news comes amid other activity showing GSK's hand and focus. GSK has sold its drinks business including Horlicks in Asia to Unilever for £3.1bn. And it has acquired Tesaro, a Boston-based loss-making biotech oncology business, for £4bn. Tesaro has an ovarian cancer drug, Zejula, which GSK wants to develop for other types of cancer and in combination with its own oncology treatments. Zejula prevents cancer cells from being repaired, causing them to die.

Comment

Any news involving GSK is big news for the UK's pharma industry. This is a massive strategic statement and change of direction, and could have ripple effects for the sector. In particular, some people have praised the focus, while others have voiced concerns that the streamlined structure could make GSK more susceptible to a takeover.


If you have any thoughts on these changes, please share them with Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 01923 919 320, or complete the form below.

Get in Touch

First name(*)
Please enter your first name.

Last name(*)
Invalid Input

Email address(*)
Please enter a valid email address

Telephone
Please insert your telephone number.

How would you like us to contact you?

Invalid Input

How can we help you?(*)
Please limit text to alphanumeric and the following special characters: £.%,'"?!£$%^&*()_-=+:;@#`

See our privacy page to find out how we use and protect your data.

Invalid Input