Research & Development

GlaxoSmithKline exists to bring better medicines to the aid of patients, their families and to healthcare providers. Science and technology of the highest standards are applied to unravel the cause of disease and to alleviate the consequent suffering.
GSK R&D is based in more than 20 sites in 11 countries. The company spends £8 million (US$14 million) on research and development each day --- that’s around £300,000 (US$562,000) every hour.

Using the most modern technology, GSK scientists try to understand the complex mechanisms that cause disease, helping them to develop medicines that are more effective and better tolerated.  Developing a new medicine costs over £500 million (US$870 million) and takes an average of 12 years of  patient and committed work.

GSK has a flexible and innovative research and development structure that allows a concentration of resources for maximum impact and more benefit to patients.

Global Manufacturing and Supply

GSK has 80 manufacturing sites in 37 countries with more than 34,000 employees. The sites within the GSK manufacturing network -

• supply products to 191 global markets for GSK
• produce more than 1,400 different brands
• manufacture almost 4 billion packs per year
• produce over 28,000 different finished packs per year
• supply around 6,900 tonnes of bulk active each year
• manage about 2,000 new product launches globally each year