GlaxoSmithKline

What GlaxoSmithKline does

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK plc) is a UK-headquartered, publicly traded biopharmaceutical company (NYSE/LSE: GSK) that discovers, develops, and commercializes specialty medicines, vaccines, and general medicines across four therapeutic areas: respiratory/immunology/inflammation, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases. Following the 2022 demerger of its consumer healthcare business into Haleon plc, GSK operates as a focused biopharma with FY2025 group turnover of £32.7 billion (CER growth 7%), 66,800 employees, 33 manufacturing sites, and commercial presence in 70 countries; HIV is channeled primarily through majority-owned ViiV Healthcare (Pfizer and Shionogi as minority shareholders).

The company's portfolio is built around proprietary technology platforms including MAPS (Multiple Antigen Presentation System) vaccine technology acquired via Affinivax, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as Blenrep, functional genomics and human-genetics-driven target identification (2x higher clinical success rate for genetically-identified targets), and AI/ML-driven drug discovery accelerated by a Cerebras wafer-scale compute installation that delivers 748x faster molecular modeling versus the Frontier supercomputer. The pipeline contains 58 medicines and vaccines in development, with 2025 milestones including 5 FDA approvals, 7 positive Phase III readouts, and 15 filings/approvals; revenue is split between specialty medicines (>30% of sales), vaccines (389 million doses delivered in 2025, 99 million to Gavi), and general medicines (~one-third of sales), distributed via specialty pharmacy, retail pharmacy, hospital systems, and government public health procurement.

GSK's go-to-market combines enterprise field sales targeting oncologists, pulmonologists, HIV specialists, and infectious disease specialists across 70 markets, with channel partnerships for general medicines through retail pharmacy and government procurement via Gavi and national immunization programs. Pricing is volume/contract-based for vaccines and premium/subscription-based for specialty biologics; FY2025 R&D investment was £6.6 billion (approximately 20% of revenue), and the company executed 14 new partnerships and acquisitions in 2025, including the announced $10.6 billion Nuvalent oncology acquisition — the first major deal under CEO Luke Miels.

Name

GlaxoSmithKline

Legal name

GSK plc

Website

https://gsk.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK plc) is a UK-headquartered global biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes specialty medicines, vaccines, and general medicines across respiratory, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases, serving patients, healthcare providers, and governments in 70 countries with FY2025 turnover of £32.7 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals (Pharmaceuticals & Vaccines)

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Banking & Viral Seed Services (MCB/WCB/VSB) (HLAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical medicines
• Vaccine development
• Specialty medicines
• Oncology therapies
• Respiratory treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Specialty Medicines: Specialty medicines for asthma, cancer, HIV, and autoimmune diseases command premium pricing and represent over 30% of GSK's sales. Includes biologic therapies like Benlysta and Ojjaara.
2. Vaccines: Portfolio of vaccines spanning infectious diseases from birth through adulthood. GSK delivers hundreds of millions of vaccine doses annually, including 389 million doses in 2025 and 99 million critical vaccine doses to Gavi for lower-income countries.
3. General Medicines: General medicines including inhalers for asthma and COPD, antibiotics, and other primary care treatments distributed globally through pharmacies and healthcare systems. Represents approximately one-third of GSK's sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GSK is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription medicines and vaccines across three product groups: Specialty Medicines (asthma, cancer, HIV, autoimmune diseases such as lupus; >30% of 2025 sales), Vaccines (broadest portfolio in the industry, 389 million doses delivered in 2025), and General Medicines (inhalers for asthma/COPD, antibiotics; ~1/3 of 2025 sales). It operates 33 manufacturing sites and a sales-led commercial model reaching 70 countries.

Product overview

GSK is a focused biopharma company that discovers, develops, and delivers medicines and vaccines to create value for patients and shareholders. The company operates across three main product categories: Specialty Medicines (preventing and treating asthma, cancer, HIV, and autoimmune diseases like lupus, generating >30% of sales with products including Benlysta, Ojjaara, Blenrep, and acquired assets like HS235, AIO-001, and Camlipixant), Vaccines (one of the broadest portfolios in the industry delivering hundreds of millions of doses annually including Shingrix and MAPS pneumococcal vaccines), and General Medicines (inhalers for asthma and COPD, antibiotics reaching people in 100+ countries). The pipeline spans four core therapeutic areas: respiratory/immunology/inflammation, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ViiV Healthcare: Joint venture with Pfizer and Shionogi focused exclusively on HIV treatment and prevention.

Products and services

• Benlysta (belimumab)
• Shingrix
• Calpol
• Ojjaara (momelotinib)
• Blenrep
• Blupeja

Quantifiable outcome

• 2x higher probability of clinical success using genetically-identified targets
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NuvalentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026GSK agreed to acquire Nuvalent for $10.6 billion (40% premium), acquiring two late-stage cancer drugs expected to receive FDA approval decisions in 2026. Deal funded through debt and cash reserves, GSK's first major acquisition under CEO Luke Miels.
• BiovacmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Biovac retained R5.3 billion contract to supply Hexaxim six-in-one vaccine to South African government for three-year tender starting in 2027. Biovac also won contracts for BCG and measles-rubella vaccines supporting local vaccine manufacturing and export plans.
• Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Abbott, SanofiminorOthers · 1 May 2026Major pharmaceutical companies including GSK identified as key players in global pediatric healthcare market, collectively dominating the competitive landscape.
• 35PharmamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026GSK agreed to acquire Canadian biotech 35Pharma for $950 million to develop HS235, an investigational activin/BMP signaling pathway inhibitor for pulmonary hypertension. HS235 has completed Phase 1 and is positioned as next-generation versus Merck's Winrevair.
• IDRxminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025UK-based GSK acquired US biopharmaceutical firm IDRx, Inc. to strengthen its specialty pharmaceuticals division and enhance targeted drug development capabilities.
• Aiolos BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2024GSK announced acquisition of Aiolos Bio for $1 billion plus up to $400 million in milestone payments, gaining access to Aiolos' phase II-ready monoclonal antibody AIO-001 targeting TSLP pathway for respiratory and inflammatory conditions.
• BELLUS HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2023GSK agreed to acquire Canadian biopharmaceutical company BELLUS Health for $2 billion to strengthen portfolio in speciality medicines and respiratory products, particularly with camlipixant for treating refractory chronic cough.
• Vir BiotechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Partnership to advance COVID-19 and coronavirus treatments combining GSK's resources with Vir Biotechnology's antibody platform expertise.
• AffinivaxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2022GSK completed acquisition of Affinivax, a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company, for $2.1 billion plus potential milestone payments. Acquisition includes development of next-generation pneumococcal vaccines using MAPS technology, with candidates in clinical trials including breakthrough therapy designation by FDA.
• Sierra OncologymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022GSK completed acquisition of Sierra Oncology for approximately $1.9 billion, acquiring late-stage drug momelotinib for myelofibrosis with anemia, strengthening GSK's oncology portfolio.
• Ionis PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-development partnership for bepirovirsen, a hepatitis B treatment co-developed by Ionis and GSK. Positive Phase 3 data showed 19% functional cure rate versus 0% on standard of care. FDA granted Priority Review with PDUFA date of October 26, 2026. GSK projects over £2 billion in peak sales.
• ViiV HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2009Unique partnership with Pfizer formed in 2009 (Shionogi joined in 2012) to create ViiV Healthcare, a company exclusively dedicated to treating and preventing HIV. GSK holds majority ownership with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders. ViiV has a portfolio of sixteen HIV treatments and preventative drugs with ambition to end the HIV epidemic.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Roche: Global biopharma leader in oncology and diagnostics with overlapping ADC and targeted-therapy portfolios; competes head-to-head with GSK's oncology launches including Blenrep.
• Pfizer: Global biopharmaceutical company with overlapping therapeutic areas in oncology, vaccines, respiratory, and infectious diseases; Pfizer is also a partner in ViiV Healthcare alongside GSK.
• AstraZeneca: UK-headquartered peer competing across oncology, respiratory, and vaccines, with similar ADC and biologics strategies and a comparable global commercial footprint.
• Merck & Co. Major pharma competitor in oncology and vaccines (Keytruda franchise, pneumococcal vaccines), overlapping with GSK's oncology ADC platform and MAPS pneumococcal pipeline.
• Novartis: Swiss biopharma peer with comparable specialty-medicine focus areas (oncology, immunology) and similar post-divestiture reshaping (Sandoz spin-off).
• Sanofi: European peer with vaccines, specialty care, and respiratory franchises; competes with GSK in influenza vaccines, Dupixent-adjacent immunology, and rare disease.
• Bristol Myers Squibb: Specialty biopharma peer with oncology and immunology focus; competes in hematology (Ojjaara vs myelofibrosis rivals) and ADCs/IO combinations.
• Eli Lilly: Global biopharma peer with growing immunology and oncology presence; overlaps with GSK's autoimmune (Benlysta) and oncology ADC strategies.
• AbbVie: Specialty biopharma peer with immunology, oncology, and neuroscience focus; competes with GSK in immunology and ADC/oncology pipelines.

Broad incumbents

• Johnson & Johnson: Diversified healthcare conglomerate whose Innovative Medicine segment competes with GSK in oncology, immunology, and pulmonary hypertension; broader portfolio than GSK's focused biopharma scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GSK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glaxosmithkline
• Xx.com/gsk
• Facebookfacebook.com/GSK

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A29 records

Investments29 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GlaxoSmithKline