GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) is one of the biggest names in the Pharmaceutical Market of Pakistan. It
would not be wrong to say that GSK is the Market Leader among the top
Multinational Corporations in Pakistan, as well all other national
pharmaceutical companies.
GSK
began operating from UK in 1880, by the name of Wellcome and Company. Glaxo was later formed in 1904. Originally,
Glaxo was a baby food manufacturer, processing the baby milk and marketing it
by the same name.
In
2001, Glaxo Welcome and Smithkline and French, Beecham Pakistan, merged to form
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) becoming the largest Pharmaceutical Company in
Pakistan. There it launched a Central
Nervous System (CNS) Franchise, to combat depression, which affected 33% of
Pakistani population.
In
2002, GSK launched ‘Seretide’ a block buster drug to fight asthma, a disease
that effects 300 million people worldwide. ‘Augmentin’ became the first ever
drug in Pakistan, to cross the Rs. 1 Billion mark.
Providing
protection to sensitive teeth, GSK Pakistan begins to locally manufacture
‘Sensodyne’ in 2004, the number 1 tooth paste in the sensitivity worldwide.
In
2005, Pakistan was struck with a massive Earth quake. GSK immediately responded
to the earth quake relief efforts by contributing Rs. 400 million and life
saving medicines worth Rs. 20 million within 48 hours of the earth quake. Same
year, GSK received; Excellence Award in Best Practices’ by the Occupational,
Health and Safety by Employers Federation of Pakistan.
In
2006, GSK achieved a big miles stone, of launching ‘Rotarix’. This vaccine was
designed to combat Rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children.
This was the only and first of its kid of vaccine available in Pakistan. In the same year GSK received 50star rating
from the Global Internal Audit, the highest rating in the industry. Same year,
GSKs site in West Wharf completed its 1 million hours without any
injury/illness. As one of the multinational companies in Pakistan, it really
gained a lot recognition.
In
2007, reaffirming its commitment towards the Pakistani market, GSK added a
77,000 sq/ft state of the art Penicillin manufacturing site. Since the minimum requirement for
infrastructure by multinational companies in Pakistan is about 60,000 sq ft of
area. GSK received ‘The Most Preferred Pharmaceutical Company’ award by the
Pakistan Society for Human Resource Management.
GSK
Pakistan supplies 71 million of doses of vaccines, the largest shipment in the
history of GSK Biological, to the Pakistan Government for Expanded Program on
Immunization (EPI). Gsk received the Excellence award for best management
practices by the Management Association of Pakistan.
Another
merger of Stiefel Laboratories and Bristol Mayers Squib business in Pakistan
took places in 2009. GSK won the Annual
Environment Excellence Award in recognition of it polices on safeguarding
health.
In
2010, ‘Augmentin’ crosses the Rs 3 Billion mark, in the history of
pharmaceutical market. Cervex a cancer vaccine was launched, as a sign of GSKs
commitment towards eradicating cancer in women.
In
2011, Panadol entered the club of billionaire, by crossing the Rs. 1 billon
mark. It became the fourth GSK brand to in the Pakistani market.
At present
GSK has a Market share of around 15%. After about 12 years of enabling people
to do more, feel better and live longer, GSK Pakistan stands as the largest
Pharmaceutical Company in Pakistan and leading the industry operation and
competition among the MNCs in Pakistan by volume, value and prescription.
