GlaxoWellcome (GSK) traces its roots to 18th-century pharmacies and key mergers, evolving into a global pharmaceutical giant through landmark drugs like Zantac and Advair, and later splitting into GSK and Haleon.
Silvanus Bevan opens Plough Court pharmacy in London, the earliest ancestor of Glaxo. #pharmaceutical #history
Joseph Nathan founds a mercantile business in New Zealand, later evolving into Glaxo. #business
The company relocates to London, expanding into dairy products and later pharmaceuticals. #history
Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome establish Burroughs Wellcome & Co. in London, a predecessor of Wellcome. #pharmaceutical
Joseph Nathan & Co. introduces Glaxo, a dried milk powder for infants, marking the birth of the Glaxo brand. #nutrition #history
Wellcome opens chemical works in Dartford, focusing on pharmaceutical production. #manufacturing
Glaxo Laboratories is incorporated as a public company on the London Stock Exchange. #finance
Glaxo introduces Ostelin, a vitamin D supplement, marking its entry into pharmaceuticals. #vitamins
Glaxo starts large-scale production of penicillin, contributing to post-war antibiotic supply. #antibiotics
Wellcome researchers discover allopurinol, a breakthrough treatment for gout. #medicine
Glaxo purchases Allen & Hanburys, a British pharmaceutical firm, expanding its product range. #acquisition
Wellcome introduces acyclovir, the first effective antiviral for herpes infections. #antiviral
Glaxo launches Zantac, a blockbuster acid reflux drug that becomes the world's best-selling prescription medicine. #pharma #blockbuster
Glaxo acquires the US firm, strengthening its presence in the American market. #expansion
Wellcome wins FDA approval for AZT, the first antiretroviral drug to treat HIV/AIDS. #HIV #breakthrough
Glaxo acquires Wellcome for £9 billion, creating GlaxoWellcome, a global pharmaceutical powerhouse. #merger
Fluticasone propionate, an inhaled corticosteroid for asthma, is launched under the brand Flovent. #asthma
Relenza (zanamivir), an inhaled antiviral for influenza, is approved. #flu #antiviral
GlaxoWellcome and SmithKline Beecham combine to form GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world's largest drugmakers. #merger
GSK and Bayer launch Levitra (vardenafil) for erectile dysfunction, competing with Viagra. #ED #pharma
Advair Diskus (fluticasone/salmeterol) becomes a top-selling asthma and COPD treatment. #asthma #COPD
GSK buys Corixa, a biotech firm, for its vaccine adjuvant technology. #acquisition #vaccines
GSK pays $3.9 billion to settle claims over Paxil marketing and withholding pediatric data. #litigation #pharma
GSK acquires Reliant Pharmaceuticals for $1.65 billion, gaining cardiovascular drugs. #acquisition
GSK buys Stiefel, a dermatology company, for $3.6 billion to expand into skincare. #dermatology #acquisition
GSK acquires Human Genome Sciences for $3.6 billion, gaining lupus drug Benlysta. #biotech #acquisition
GSK pays $3 billion to settle US charges of improper marketing and bribery of doctors. #ethics #litigation
GSK sells its oncology drugs to Novartis and acquires Novartis's vaccines business in a complex deal. #pharma #reorganization
GSK begins phase III trials for Shingrix, a shingles vaccine later approved in 2017. #vaccines #clinicaltrials
GSK sells its Horlicks and other consumer health brands to Unilever for £3.1 billion. #divestiture
The FDA approves Shingrix, GSK's shingles vaccine, which becomes a blockbuster. #vaccines #approval
GSK and Pfizer combine their consumer health divisions into a joint venture, with GSK majority owner. #jointventure
GSK finalizes the joint venture with Pfizer, creating a new consumer health giant. #jointventure
GSK and Sanofi collaborate to develop a COVID-19 vaccine using Sanofi's antigen and GSK's adjuvant. #COVID19 #vaccine
GSK plans to separate into GSK (pharma/vaccines) and a new consumer health company (Haleon). #restructuring
GSK spins off Haleon, its consumer health arm, listing on the London Stock Exchange. #spin-off
GSK buys Bellus Health for $2 billion, gaining a late-stage drug for chronic cough. #acquisition #biotech
GSK acquires Aiolos Bio for $1 billion, adding an asthma drug candidate. #acquisition