GlaxoSmithKline

1715
Plough Court pharmacy, the forerunner of Allen and Hanburys Ltd, is established in London by Silvanus Bevan.


1830
John K Smith opens his first drugstore in Philadelphia. John's younger brother, George, joins him in 1841 to form John K Smith & Co. 


1842
Thomas Beecham launches the Beecham's Pills laxative business in England. The laxative is to become widely successful. 


1859

Beecham opens the world's first factory to be built solely for making medicines at St Helens in England. 
1865
Mahlon Kline joins Smith and Shoemaker - as John K Smith and Co had become - as a bookkeeper 
1873
Joseph Nathan, who left the UK to seek new business opportunities 20 years before, establishes a general trading company at Wellington in New Zealand - Joseph Nathan and Co - the foundation for the Glaxo company to be formed later. 
1875
Mahlon Kline took on additional responsibilities as a salesman and added many new and large accounts. He is rewarded when the company, Mahlon K Smith and Company, is renamed Smith, Kline and Company. 
1880
Burroughs Wellcome & Company is established in London by American pharmacists Henry Wellcome and Silas Burroughs, four years after Joseph Nathan opened a London office. 
1884
Tabloid is registered as a Burroughs Wellcome and Company trademark to describe its compressed tablets 
1885
Thomas Beecham's company acquires headquarters on the corner of Silver Street and Water Street, St Helens, England. Two years later, the company's new factory in St Helens becomes the first in the area to have electricity 
1891
Smith, Kline and Company acquires French, Richards and Company, providing a greater portfolio of consumer brands 

1891

The Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories open 
1904
 
Nathan starts dried milk powder production in New Zealand, exporting to London. Henry Wellcome hires Henry Dale, who is to discover and study, among other things, histamine and how nerve impulses are transmitted.
1906
Glaxo is registered by Joseph Nathan and Co as a trademark for dried milk. A Burroughs Wellcome subsidiary is created in New York. 
1908
The Glaxo department of Joseph Nathan and Co opens in London and the first "baby book" is published. 
1910
The "Blue Line" is added to the Smith, Kline and French name, a range including poison ivy lotion, iron tablets and lozenges 
1913
 
Production of Beecham's Pills laxative reaches one million a day.
1919
 
Alex C Maclean establishes Macleans Ltd, manufacturing own-name products for chemists. Mahlon Kline begins the novel practice of sending pharmaceutical samples through the mail to doctors across the US.
1924
The vitamin D preparation Ostelin becomes Glaxo's first pharmaceutical product. The Wellcome Foundation Ltd is formed. The Beecham estate is purchased by Philip Hill, who realised that the Beecham's Pills business could, through diversification, become the basis of a major company. 
1926
Beecham's Powders cold remedy is introduced 
1929
 
Smith, Kline and French Company is renamed Smith Kline and French Laboratories and becomes more focused on research. 
1930
 
Sydney Smith of Wellcome isolates the glycosides of Digitalis lanata, a variety of foxglove. Lanoxin (digoxin) is used in the treatment of heart failure. 
1935
 
Glaxo Laboratories is formed and new facilities are created at Greenford, near London. 
1936
 
Sir Henry Wellcome's will leaves sole ownership of The Wellcome Foundation Ltd to a UK medical research charity, today called the Wellcome Trust. Sir Henry Dale of Wellcome is awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work in the chemical transmission of nerve impulses 
1938
Beecham acquires Macleans Ltd and Eno's Proprietaries Ltd. Macleanstoothpaste and Lucozade energy-replacement drink are added to Beecham's product line 
1939
 
Beecham acquires County Perfumery Co Ltd, manufacturers of Brylcreem, a men's hair application. 
1943
Beecham Research Laboratories is formed with the mission to focus exclusively on basic pharmaceutical research. 
1945
 
Beecham Group Ltd is established, replacing Beecham Pills Ltd and Beecham Estates Ltd - later known as Beecham Group plc - and incorporates Beecham Research Laboratories. 
1947
Glaxo Laboratories Ltd absorbs the Joseph Nathan company and becomes the parent company. Glaxo is listed on the London Stock Exchange. New Beecham laboratories are established at Brockham Park in Surrey, England. 
1948
 
Vitamin B12 is isolated by Glaxo scientists for the treatment of pernicious anaemia. Streptomycin for TB treatment is produced by Glaxo scientists. Polymixin anti-bacterials are developed by Wellcome. Smith Kline and French Laboratories acquire a new site at 1530 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia. 
1949
 
Beecham Group Ltd acquires C L Bencard Ltd, a company specialising in allergy vaccines. It is a first step towards ethical products for the Beecham company. 
1950s
Thorazine (chlorpromazine), an anti-psychotic from Smith Kline and French, is introduced. The product will revolutionise the treatment of mental illness during the 1950s and become the product of reference in the first generation of central nervous system drugs. 
1952
Smith Kline and French introduces the first time-released medicine, Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine sulfate). It is marketed and used in a Spansule - a novel form of drug delivery. Daraprim (pyrimethamine) anti-malarial is developed by Wellcome. 
1953
Wellcome launches its antileukaemic drug Purinethol (mercaptopurine). 
1958
 
Glaxo acquires Allen and Hanburys Ltd. 
1959
 
The Wellcome Foundation acquires Cooper, McDougall and Robertson Ltd, an animal health company founded in 1843. 
1958-1959
 
Wellcome launches range of Actifed antihistamine products for head colds and allergies. 
1960
Smith Kline and French launches Contac, the cold remedy, using the Spansule to release an initial major therapeutic dose, followed by numerous smaller doses, over 10-12 hours. The company moves into the animal health business with the acquisition of Norden Laboratories. 
1963
 
Betnovate (betamethasone) becomes the first of Glaxo's range of steroid skin disease treatments. In the mid-1960s, Smith Kline and French acquires RIT (Recherche et Industrie Therapeutiques), a vaccines business. 
1968
Septrin (co-trimoxazole) anti-bacterial from Wellcome is introduced. 
1969
Glaxo launches Ventolin (salbutamol) for asthma, developed at Ware and marketed under the Allen and Hanburys name. Ceporex, Glaxo's first oral cephalosporin antibiotic, is introduced. Smith Kline and French enters the clinical laboratories business through the purchase of seven laboratories in the US and one in Canada. 
1970
 
Burroughs Wellcome Inc moves its production facility from New York to Greenville, North Carolina. 
1971
 
Wellcome launches its rubella vaccine. Burroughs Wellcome Inc opens its research site at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. 
1972
Scientists at Beecham Research Laboratories discover amoxicillin and launch Amoxil, to become a widely-used antibiotic. Beecham Group plc is unsuccessful in its bid for Glaxo Group Ltd - and Glaxo is unsuccessful in its attempt to merge with UK chemists Boots. Inhaled steroid beclomethasone dipropionate is launched by Glaxo as Becotide (beclomethasone dipropionate) for asthma, followed in 1975 by Beconase for rhinitis conditions. 
1976
The H2 blocker Tagamet (cimetidine) is introduced in the UK by the SmithKline Corporation, and in the US in the following year. The treatment will revolutionise peptic ulcer therapy. 
1978
 
Through the acquisition of Meyer Laboratories Inc, Glaxo's business in the US is started, to become Glaxo Inc from 1980. The broad-spectrum injectable antibiotic Zinacef (cefuroxime) is introduced by Glaxo. 
1981
The anti-ulcer treatment Zantac (ranitidine) is launched by Glaxo and is to become the world's top-selling medicine by 1986. Augmentin (amoxicillin / clavulanate potassium), to combat a wide range of bacterial infections in children and adults, is launched by Beecham. The antiviral Zovirax (aciclovir) is launched by Wellcome for herpes infections 
1982
 
SmithKline acquires Allergan, an eye and skincare business, and merges with Beckman Instruments Inc, a company specialising in diagnostics and measurement instruments and supplies. The company is renamed SmithKline Beckman. John Vane of the Wellcome Research Laboratories is awarded the Nobel Prize, with two other scientists, "for their discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related biologically active substances." 
1983
 
Glaxo Inc moves to new facilities in Research Triangle Park and Zebulon, North Carolina. The broad-spectrum injectable antibiotic Fortum (ceftazidime) is launched. Wellcome launches Flolan (epoprostenol) for use in renal dialysis. 
1986
Beecham acquires the US firm Norcliff Thayer, adding Tums antacid tablets and Oxy skin care to its portfolio. 
1987
 
The AIDS treatment Retrovir (zidovudine) is launched by Wellcome. Glaxo introduces the oral antibiotic Zinnat (cefuroxime axetil). 
1988
 
SmithKline BioScience Laboratories acquires one of its largest competitors, International Clinical Laboratories, Inc, increasing the company's size by half and establishing SmithKline BioScience Laboratories as the industry leader. The Nobel Prize for medicine is awarded to George Hitchings and Gertrude Elion, of Burroughs Wellcome Inc, and to Sir James Black, who had worked at the Wellcome Foundation and Smith Kline and French Laboratories, "for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment." 
1989
SmithKline Beckman and The Beecham Group plc merge to form SmithKline Beecham plc. Engerix-B hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant), a genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine, is launched in the US and France. 
1990
The synthetic lung surfactant Exosurf and the anti-epileptic drug Lamictal (lamotrigine) are launched by Wellcome. Glaxo introduces long-actingSerevent (salmeterol) for asthma, the inhaled corticosteroid Flixotide(fluticasone propionate) and Zofran (ondansetron) anti-emetic for cancer patients. 
1991
 
Glaxo launches its novel treatment for migraine, Imigran (sumatriptan),Lacipil (lacidipine) for high blood pressure, and Cutivate (fluticasone propionate) in the US for skin diseases. SmithKline Beecham moves its global headquarters to New Horizons Court at Brentford, England. SmithKline Beecham's Seroxat/Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) is launched in the UK, its first market. 
1992
 
Mepron (atovaquone) for AIDS-related pneumonia is introduced by Burroughs Wellcome in the US. SmithKline Beecham's Havrix hepatitis A vaccine, inactivated, the world's first hepatitis A vaccine, is launched in six European markets. 
1993
SmithKline Beecham and Human Genome Science negotiate a multi-million-dollar research collaboration agreement for identifying and describing the functions of the genes in the human body. Glaxo introduces Flixotide(fluticasone propionate) for bronchial conditions. 
1994
SmithKline Beecham purchases Diversified Pharmaceutical Services, Inc, a pharmaceutical benefits manager. Sterling Health also is acquired, making SmithKline Beecham the third-largest over-the-counter medicines company in the world and number one in Europe and the international markets. With the intention of focusing on human healthcare, SmithKline Beecham sells its animal health business. 
1995
 
Glaxo and Wellcome merge to form Glaxo Wellcome. Glaxo Wellcome acquires California-based Affymax, a leader in the field of combinatorial chemistry. The Queen opens Glaxo Wellcome's Medicines Research Centre at Stevenage in England. Valtrex (valaciclovir) is launched by Glaxo Wellcome as an anti-herpes successor to Zovirax (acyclovir). SmithKline Beecham acquires Sterling Winthrop's site in Upper Providence, Pennsylvania, to fulfil US R&D expansion needs. 
1996
 
Community Partnership is established by SmithKline Beecham to focus philanthropy on community-based healthcare. SmithKline Beecham Healthcare Services is formed by combining the clinical laboratories, disease management and Diversified Pharmaceutical Services businesses. 
1997
 
SmithKline Beecham's research centre, New Frontiers Science Park, opens at Harlow in England. SmithKline Beecham and Incyte Pharmaceuticals create a joint venture - diaDexus - to discover and market novel molecular diagnostics based on the use of genomics. 
1998
 
SmithKline Beecham and the World Health Organization announce a collaboration to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) by the year 2020. The largest pharmaceutical company in Poland is created with the acquisition of Polfa Poznan by Glaxo Wellcome. 
1999
 
The 30th anniversary of the launch of Ventolin (albuterol) is marked as respiratory becomes Glaxo Wellcome's largest therapeutic area. Sharpening its focus on pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare, SmithKline Beecham divests SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories and Diversified Pharmaceutical Services. SmithKline Beecham's Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate), for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is launched in the US. 
2000
 
GlaxoSmithKline is formed through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. 

Avandia passes one million retail prescriptions in the US. 

GSK makes a ground-breaking pledge to provide three HIV/AIDS medicines to developing country governments at significant price reductions. 
2001
 
GSK moves to its new UK headquarters in Brentford, West London. GSK House consists of four, five-storey buildings and a 16-storey tower block linked by an internal fully-glazed 'street'. The building was designed with input from employees. 

Twinrix, the first combination vaccine to prevent hepatitis A and B is approved by the FDA. 

GSK reorganises its research and development efforts into Centres of Excellence for Drug Development (CEDDs), small business units that emphasise flexibility, innovation and therapeutic focus. 

GSK launches Advair, an anti-asthma medicine, in the US and acquires theSensodyne range of oral care products. 

GSK launches the African Malaria Partnership to help combat a disease that kills more than one million people every year.
2002
 
Avandia reaches 20 million prescriptions milestone in the US. 

GSK donated the first 100 million albendazole tablets as part of its commitment to fight lymphatic filariasis. 

GSK marks the 15th anniversary of AZT, the first medicine used to treat HIV/AIDS. 

GSK‘s Positive Action programme celebrates its tenth anniversary. 

By the end of 2002, GSK had secured 120 arrangements to supply preferentially-priced HIV/AIDS medicines to 50 of the world‘s poorest countries.
2003
 
On 27 July 2003, ten million people in Sri Lanka received free doses of GSK-donated albendazole to help prevent the transmission of lymphatic filariasis. 

GSK launches Wellbutrin XL, an anti-depressant medicine, in the US.
2004
 
GSK ships 33 million tablets of preferentially-priced Combivir (HIV treatment) to Africa. 

GSK launches its Clinical Trial Register, an Internet site containing clinical trial data that anyone can access. GSK is the first pharmaceutical company to offer this level of transparency for its clinical trial data.
2005
 
GSK launches Rotarix, a vaccine against rotavirus, a major cause of vomiting and diarrhoea in infants. The launch programme of the product focuses on markets where the need is highest. 

GSK donates medicines and vaccines in response to the Asian Tsunami disaster of December 2004 and devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the USA in August 2005. 

GSK announces the FDA approval of Fluarix, an influenza virus vaccine. 

GSK CEO JP Garnier meets US President Bush to discuss pandemic flu planning. 

GSK is highlighted by Bill Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in recognition of the company's commitment to R&D on malaria and other neglected diseases. 

GSK take steps to bolster it leadership position in pandemic flu preparedness by investing in flu vaccine production facilities, the acquisition of vaccines production facilities and the development of candidate pandemic flu vaccines.
2006
 
GSK produces over 10 million packs of its anti-flu treatment Relenza in one year. 

To boost its consumer healthcare portfolio, GSK acquires CNS Inc., producers of the Breathe Right nasal dilator strips and FiberChoice dietary fibre supplements. 

By the end of 2006, 600 million treatments for lymphatic filariasis had been donated as part of the company's commitment to eradicate this disease. 

GSK wins New Business Award for efforts to end lymphatic filariasis. 

Rotarix, the first vaccine against rotavirus is made available in Europe.
2007
 
In a busy year for acquisitions, GSK acquires Domantis, a leader in developing antibody therapies, Praesis Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceuticals company and Reliant Pharmaceuticals, a producer of cardiovascular medicines. 

GSK launches alli, over-the-counter orlistat, for first FDA-approved treatment for obesity in the US. 

GSK gains US approval for Tykerb, a new treatment for advanced breast cancer. 

Cervarix, GSK‘s cervical cancer vaccine approved in Europe. 

GSK announces submission of combination vaccine Globorix to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) with the intention of providing the vaccine to Africa with no commercial reward. 

Andrew Witty named CEO Designate to replace JP Garnier in May 2008 

GSK obtains exclusive US OTC marketing rights to Mevacor (lovastatin) from Merck & Co., Inc. 

New R&D centre opened in China.
2008
 
GSK marks the ten year anniversary of its commitment to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. 

New allergic rhinitis treatment Avamys approved in Europe. 

GSK reduces prices for anti-retrovirals in the world's poorest countries. 

FDA approves Rotarix, a vaccination against rotavirus. 

FDA approves Treximet for the treatment of migraine. 

Andrew Witty succeeds JP Garnier as Chief Executive Officer. 

GSK acquires Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc, a world leader in sirtuin research and development. 

FDA approves Requip XL, an oral treatment for Parkinson‘s disease. 

Cervarix, GSK's cervical cancer vaccine, wins tenden for UK national immunisation programme. 

GSK sets out three new strategic priorities: grow a diversified global business; deliver more products of value; simplify the operating model. 

GSK acquires the leading dry mouth brand, Biotene

GSK ceases providing corporate political contributions.
2009
 
Weight loss medicine alli launches in Europe. 

Synflorix, GlaxoSmithKline‘s pneumococcal vaccine, receives European authorisation. 

GSK‘s commitment to emerging markets is strengthened through agreements with Aspen, Dr. Reddy‘s and UCB. 

GSK becomes a leader in skincare with the acquisition of Stiefel

As influenza A (H1N1) spreads across the world, GSK commits to tackling the pandemic with its anti-retroviral and vaccine products. 

GSK and Pfizer launch ViiV Healthcare, a new company focused on delivering advances in treatment and care for HIV communities. 

Agreement reached to launch Lucozade in China. 

GSK‘s H1N1 Pandemrix vaccine receives European Commission Approval. 

Cervarix approved in USA and Japan. 

World‘s largest malaria vaccine trial gets underway in seven African countries. 

GSK signs agreement with the World Health Organization to donate 50 million doses of pandemic H1N1 vaccine for distribution to developing countries. 

GlaxoSmithKline announced as Tier 3 Sponsor as London 2012 anti-doping plans confirmed. 

As part of its commitment to greater transparency, GSK publishes speaking and consulting fees paid to US physicians.
2010
 
GSK contributes $1.4 million of medicines to support victims of the Haiti earthquake. 

GSK announces open innovation strategy to help deliver new and better medicines for people living in the world‘s poorest countries. New collaborations will share intellectual property for neglected tropical diseases such as malaria. 

GSK announces the formation of a new standalone unit specialising in the development and commercialisation of medicines for rare diseases. 

GSK joins global vaccine alliance to help prevent millions of children from contracting pneumococcal disease in the world‘s poorest countries. 

European approval granted for Duodart

GSK drives Latin America growth strategy with acquisition of Laboratorios Phoenix. 

GSK increases support for WHO strategy to improve children’s health with new 5-year commitment to expand donations of albendazole medicine. 

GSK and Fiocruz extend innovative collaboration to research and develop new medicines for neglected tropical diseases. 

GSK signs agreement to acquire Nanjing MeiRui Pharmaceuticals in China.
2011
 
GSK announces move to new environmentally-friendly building in Philadelphia USA. 

Rapid introduction of Synflorix™ in Kenya at around 90% discount enables vaccination of millions of children against pneumococcal disease. 

Launch of Sensodyne Repair & Protect, the world’s first everyday fluoride toothpaste with NovaMin® technology that can repair sensitive teeth. 

GSK to reimburse 100% of uncapped tuition fees for all undergraduates it recruits in the UK


1 comment: