GlaxoSmithKline

GSK is a multinational pharmaceutical company with a varied history in a number of different fields of care and treatment. It's a company on the forefront of pharmaceutical development with a vested interest in helping improve quality of life as well as longevity with the treatments it develops. It currently has its headquarters in the UK with offices in over a 100 countries in the world with main research centres in the US, UK, Spain, China and Belgium.

History

GlaxoSmithKline was formed in 2000 as a result of the merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKlineBeecham, both companies that have a long standing reputation in the industry. The year 2000 was also the year that GSK made a pledge to developing countries to provide HIV medications at a reduced price.

After its merger GSK was also involved in the development of Cervarix, a HPV vaccine and a combination vaccine for Hepatitis A and B. It was also behind the development of the H1N1 vaccine during the 2009 pandemic. One of its latest developments in collaboration with Human Genome Sciences is a treatment for lupus, Benlysta, which is the first of its kind to receive approval for 50 years.

However, prior to that, the forerunners of what we now know as the GSK group was involved in the development of many life changing treatments, ranging from laxatives in the 1800s to the pioneering asthma treatment Ventolin in the 1970s, treatments for animals to men's hair care products.

Visit the GlaxoSmithKline website to find out more.

Treatments

GlaxoSmithKline has a diverse portfolio of products and some of its most commonly used treatments include Valtrex for genital herpes; Malarone which is used in malaria prophylaxis and Seretide, a steroid treatment to prevent asthma.

Outlook

There is no doubt that GSK will continue to be at the forefront of development in a number of medical fields including neurosciences, oncology and cardiovascular disease, but it's also looking into better therapies and treatments for tropical diseases by working with a number of organisations, including the World Health Organisation.