GSK plc

What does GSK own?
GSK owns a portfolio of prescription pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Its key products include Shingrix (shingles vaccine, GBP 3.6 billion in FY2025), Trelegy (respiratory, GBP 3.0 billion), the HIV franchise (GBP 7.7 billion including Dovato and Cabenuva), Arexvy (RSV vaccine), Nucala (respiratory), and Bexsero (meningitis vaccine). GSK previously owned consumer healthcare brands including Sensodyne, Advil, and Centrum, but these were spun off as Haleon plc in July 2022.

Is GSK publicly traded?
Yes, GSK plc is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, both under the ticker symbol GSK. The company has a dispersed shareholder base dominated by institutional investors including BlackRock and Vanguard. GSK has been publicly traded since its formation in 2000 through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham.

Who is the CEO of GSK?
Luke Miels became CEO of GSK on January 1, 2026, succeeding Dame Emma Walmsley. Miels previously served as GSK's Chief Commercial Officer. Walmsley led GSK for nearly nine years, oversaw the Haleon demerger, and steered the company through the Zantac litigation. She remains with the company until September 30, 2026 to support the transition.

Where is GSK headquartered?
GSK is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company's corporate offices are in Brentford, West London. GSK has major operations in the United States (approximately 15,000 employees), Europe, and emerging markets, with manufacturing facilities in the UK, U.S., Singapore, and India.

How many brands does GSK own?
GSK owns a portfolio of approximately 20 key prescription medicines and vaccines. The most significant by revenue are Shingrix, the HIV franchise (Dovato, Cabenuva, Juluca), Trelegy, Nucala, Arexvy, Bexsero, and oncology drugs Ojemda and Blenrep. The company does not own consumer healthcare brands, as these were spun off as Haleon in 2022.

Who owns GSK?
GSK is a publicly traded company with a dispersed shareholder base. No single shareholder controls the company. Major institutional investors include BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and other large asset management firms. The company is governed by a board of directors chaired by Sir Jonathan Symonds, with CEO Luke Miels responsible for day-to-day operations.

What was the Zantac litigation?
Zantac (ranitidine) was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2020 after the FDA found that it contained NDMA, a probable carcinogen. Approximately 80,000 lawsuits were filed alleging Zantac caused cancer. GSK agreed in October 2024 to pay up to $2.3 billion to settle the U.S. claims without admitting liability. By the end of 2025, GSK had paid GBP 1.9 billion, with the remaining GBP 0.6 billion expected in 2026. The company described the settlement process as materially complete.

GSK was created in 2000 through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. Glaxo Wellcome was itself formed in 1995 by the merger of Glaxo Holdings and Wellcome Foundation. SmithKline Beecham was formed in 1989 by the merger of SmithKline Beckman and Beecham Group. The 2000 merger created a pharmaceutical giant with a broad portfolio spanning prescription drugs, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products.

In the 2000s and 2010s, GSK grew through R&D investment and acquisitions but faced significant challenges. Patent expirations on key drugs eroded revenue. The company faced a major scandal in China in 2013, when Chinese authorities fined GSK nearly GBP 300 million for bribing doctors and hospitals to boost drug sales. The scandal led to management changes and a overhaul of GSK's compliance procedures.

Emma Walmsley became CEO in April 2017, the first woman to lead a major pharmaceutical company. She initiated a strategic review that culminated in the decision to spin off the consumer healthcare business. In 2018, GSK announced it would separate consumer healthcare through a demerger. The spinoff was completed in July 2022, creating Haleon plc as an independent publicly traded company. GSK retained a small stake in Haleon, which it has since gradually sold down.

The Zantac litigation was a major overhang on GSK's shares from 2020 onward. Ranitidine, the generic form of Zantac, was pulled from the U.S. market in 2020 after the FDA found that it contained a probable carcinogen called NDMA. Thousands of lawsuits were filed against GSK and other manufacturers alleging that Zantac caused cancer. In October 2024, GSK announced it had agreed to pay up to $2.3 billion to settle approximately 80,000 Zantac lawsuits in the United States, without admitting liability. By the end of 2025, GSK had paid GBP 1.9 billion in total Zantac-related settlements, with approximately GBP 0.6 billion remaining to be paid in 2026. The company described the settlement process as "now materially complete."

Under Walmsley, GSK prioritized specialty medicines and vaccines. R&D spending increased to GBP 7.5 billion in 2025, up 18 percent year over year. The company achieved five major product approvals in 2025 and has 15 major pipeline opportunities set to launch between 2025 and 2031. GSK's 2031 sales outlook is more than GBP 40 billion.

GSK has committed to environmental targets including net-zero emissions across its value chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3) by 2030 for Scope 1 and 2, and 2045 for Scope 3. The company has set science-based targets verified by the SBTi. GSK reports its climate data through CDP and has committed to sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity for its owned operations.

In access to medicine, GSK has a long history of tiered pricing for vaccines and medicines in low-income countries. The company is a member of the Access to Medicine Foundation's index and has been ranked among the top pharmaceutical companies for access initiatives. GSK caps prices for vaccines in the poorest countries at 5 percent of the price charged in developed markets.

On ethics, GSK has implemented comprehensive compliance reforms following the 2013 China bribery scandal. The company publishes clinical trial data and has committed to transparency in its research practices. GSK was the first major pharmaceutical company to join the AllTrials campaign, which advocates for all clinical trials to be registered and results reported.

GSK has faced several significant controversies and regulatory actions over the past two decades.

The China bribery scandal in 2013 was one of the most consequential. Chinese authorities investigated GSK for bribing doctors and hospitals to boost drug sales, ultimately fining the company nearly GBP 300 million. A British GSK executive was detained and later deported. The scandal forced GSK to overhaul its compliance procedures in China and globally.

The Zantac litigation was the most significant legal issue in recent years. Ranitidine, the generic form of Zantac, was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2020 after the FDA found that it contained NDMA, a probable human carcinogen, particularly when stored at higher temperatures. Approximately 80,000 lawsuits were filed in U.S. courts alleging that Zantac use caused various cancers. GSK, which originally developed and sold Zantac before it went generic, faced the largest share of claims. In October 2024, GSK agreed to pay up to $2.3 billion to settle the U.S. lawsuits without admitting liability. By the end of 2025, GSK had paid GBP 1.9 billion, with the remaining GBP 0.6 billion expected in 2026. The company stated the settlement process is "now materially complete."

GSK has also faced scrutiny over its vaccine business. In 2020, the company was criticized for delays in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly after its adjuvanted vaccine candidate with Sanofi showed weaker-than-expected results in older adults. The company eventually abandoned its first COVID-19 vaccine program. More recently, GSK's RSV vaccine Arexvy has faced questions about duration of protection and the need for revaccination, though it remains a commercial success.

In 2025, GSK faced U.S. tariff pressure under the Trump administration's proposed 100 percent tariffs on branded pharmaceutical imports. The company responded by committing to build a new biologics factory in Pennsylvania and investing in U.S. manufacturing, a move that was widely interpreted as an effort to mitigate tariff exposure.