Content about GlaxoSmithKline

NEW YORK — GlaxoSmithKline is offering a recycling program for empty inhalers at retail pharmacies in 31 cities, the drug maker said Wednesday.

The company announced its "Complete the Cycle" program for GSK respiratory inhalers, starting in October.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antidepressant made by Wockhardt, the Indian drug maker said Tuesday.

Wockhardt announced the FDA approval of its bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Wellbutrin SR, various versions of which have a market of about $268 million, according to IMS Health.

Procter & Gamble’s Prilosec OTC still is the best-selling antacid on the market, with more than $252.7 million in annual sales for the 52 weeks ended July 8 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), followed by fellow proton-pump inhibitor Novartis’ Prevacid 24HR ($104.1 million).


Both of those antacid heavy hitters are losing dollar share to their generic-
equivalent competitors, however, leaving GlaxoSmithKline’s venerable Tums brand as the largest growth brand within antacids ($91.3 million in sales, up 2.5%).


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new quality improvement initiative that aims to disseminate newly designed patient medication information to patients filling prescriptions at participating pharmacies has been launched.

LONDON — Stiefel, a GlaxoSmithKline company, announced the availability of Sorilux foam by prescription.

The product is a topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients ages 18 years or older. Sorilux foam utilizes VersaFoam technology. VersaFoam-AEF (aqueous-based emulsion formulation) is free of ethanol, preservatives, parabens and fragrance, Stiefel said. The company also noted the foam is the only vitamin D3 analog treatment in a topical foam formulation.

LONDON — British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline will acquire development partner Human Genome Sciences for $3.6 billion, GSK said Monday.

The deal, worth $14.25 per share, would give GSK full ownership of the lupus drug Benlysta (belimumab), as well as albiglutide, an experimental drug for diabetes, and darapladib, an experimental heart disease drug.

LONDON and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance submitted a regulatory application to the Food and Drug Administration for their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment.

This may be the year of the legacy brands as two companies that recently acquired separate brand portfolios from GlaxoSmithKline focus on reinvigorating consumer attention to their respective product lines.


Prestige Brands will be adding 17 former GSK brands to its stable of legacy brands that already includes Luden’s and Dramamine. The company recently identified the five key GSK-acquired brands that Prestige will be focusing on in terms of both marketing support and new product development — BC, Goody’s, Debrox, Gaviscon and Beano.


LONDON — Stiefel, a GlaxoSmithKline company, on Monday acquired the eczema remedy Toctino (alitretinoin) from Basilea Pharmaceutica.

“Toctino is an important and growing product that complements the Stiefel portfolio and offers a proven therapy for patients with a significant unmet medical need," stated Simon Jose, Stiefel president. "This acquisition gives us an immediate opportunity to develop and expand the availability of this new and innovative product of value, and reinforces Stiefel and GSK’s commitment to dermatology.”

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a drug for treating Parkinson's disease, the company said Thursday.

Dr. Reddy's introduced ropinirole hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 2-mg, 4-mg, 6-mg, 8-mg and 12-mg strengths. The 2-mg, 4-mg and 6-mg strengths will be available in 30- and 90-count bottle sizes, while the other two strengths will be available in 30-count bottles.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Requip XL, which had sales of $58 million during the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — One month after GlaxoSmithKline announced its tender offer to acquire Human Genome Sciences, HGS said Friday that its board of directors has rejected the unsolicited bid.

MALVERN, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and U.S.-based Auxilium Pharmaceuticals will co-promote a testosterone-replacement drug, the two said Monday.

GSK and Auxilium announced an agreement for the co-promotion of Testim 1% (testosterone gel), used in men with conditions related to deficiency or absence of the hormone.