Glaxo Wellcome

Glaxo Wellcome was a British multinational pharmaceutical company that existed from 1995 until 2000. It was created through the merger of Glaxo and the Wellcome Foundation, bringing together two important British drug businesses with different historical origins. Glaxo had developed from Joseph Nathan and Company's food and pharmaceutical activities in New Zealand and Britain, while the Wellcome business descended from Burroughs Wellcome & Company, founded in London in 1880 by pharmacists Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome. The immediate corporate predecessor, Glaxo, began as a producer of dried-milk baby food in New Zealand. The Glaxo name was later applied to pharmaceutical operations, and the company released its first pharmaceutical product, a vitamin D preparation, in 1924. Glaxo Laboratories became a distinct London subsidiary in 1935, was reorganized as the group's parent in 1947, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its expansion included the acquisition of Allen & Hanburys in 1958 and Meyer Laboratories in 1978. Allen & Hanburys contributed important respiratory-medicine expertise, an area that later became central to Glaxo Wellcome's commercial identity. Burroughs Wellcome developed a strong research profile, particularly in pharmacology and tropical medicine. Its research organization employed scientists including Gertrude B. Elion and George H. Hitchings, whose work contributed to medicines such as mercaptopurine. The company also established substantial research and manufacturing operations in the United States, including facilities in New York and North Carolina. This international infrastructure gave the combined company a substantial base in both British and American pharmaceutical research. Glaxo and Wellcome merged in 1995 in what was then regarded as the largest merger in British corporate history. The new company immediately undertook a major restructuring of research and development. Thousands of positions were eliminated worldwide, the Beckenham research facility in Kent was closed, and a new Medicines Research Centre was established at Stevenage in Hertfordshire. Glaxo Wellcome also acquired Affymax, a California-based company associated with combinatorial chemistry, strengthening its interest in emerging drug-discovery technologies. By the end of the 1990s, Glaxo Wellcome ranked among the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. It sold medicines across respiratory care, neurology, infectious disease, HIV treatment, migraine therapy and dermatology. Its prominent products included Ventolin, a salbutamol-based asthma treatment; Imigran for migraine; Zovirax for herpes infections; and the antiretroviral medicines Retrovir and Epivir. The company was described as the world's largest supplier of asthma and HIV/AIDS medicines at the time. It employed approximately 59,000 people, operated dozens of companies and manufacturing facilities internationally, and maintained research centers in Britain, the United States, Japan and Italy. The company was short-lived as an independent corporate entity. In January 2000, Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham announced plans to combine. The transaction was completed on 27 December 2000, creating GlaxoSmithKline. Glaxo Wellcome's operations, products, research programs and corporate structure were incorporated into the new group. The Glaxo name survived as part of the GSK identity and in product and legal-company names, but Glaxo Wellcome itself ceased to operate as a separate company.

Glaxo Wellcome's history combined the development of two major pharmaceutical traditions. Glaxo originated in the business founded by Joseph Edward Nathan in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1873. The company initially traded general goods and later used surplus dairy milk to manufacture a dried-milk infant food. The product eventually adopted the Glaxo name, and the business moved progressively toward healthcare. Its first pharmaceutical product was a vitamin D preparation released in 1924. Glaxo Laboratories was incorporated as a separate London subsidiary in 1935, and a 1947 reorganization made Glaxo the parent company of the wider group and secured a London Stock Exchange listing. Glaxo expanded through acquisitions and international investment. It bought Allen & Hanburys in 1958, gaining a business with important expertise in respiratory medicines. It acquired Meyer Laboratories in 1978, strengthening its presence in the United States. During the 1980s, Glaxo expanded its American research, manufacturing and administrative infrastructure in North Carolina. These developments helped create the international platform that Glaxo later brought into its merger with Wellcome. The Wellcome side of the company descended from Burroughs Wellcome & Company, established in London in 1880 by Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome. Burroughs Wellcome developed an unusually strong scientific and research-oriented culture. Its Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories opened in 1902, and it later established research and manufacturing operations in the United States. Scientists working within its research organization included Gertrude B. Elion and George H. Hitchings, whose discoveries contributed to important medicines, including mercaptopurine. The Wellcome Foundation also expanded into animal health through the acquisition of Cooper, McDougall & Robertson in 1959. Glaxo and Wellcome merged in 1995. The transaction created Glaxo Wellcome plc and was widely regarded at the time as the largest merger in British corporate history. Integration involved a substantial restructuring of research and development. The company closed its Beckenham research facility, reduced its workforce by approximately 10,000 positions worldwide and created a new Medicines Research Centre in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. It also acquired Affymax, a California company associated with combinatorial chemistry, as part of an effort to strengthen modern drug-discovery methods. Glaxo Wellcome's commercial portfolio covered several therapeutic areas. Its leading products included Imigran for migraine, Ventolin and salbutamol products for asthma, Zovirax for herpes infections, and Retrovir and Epivir for HIV/AIDS treatment. The company's respiratory and anti-infective franchises were particularly prominent. By 1999, Glaxo Wellcome was among the three largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue, with operations in numerous countries, around 59,000 employees, dozens of operating companies and approximately 50 manufacturing facilities. It maintained research operations in Britain, the United States, Japan and Italy, alongside manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia. Glaxo Wellcome's independent corporate life ended during the next wave of pharmaceutical consolidation. Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham announced their proposed combination in January 2000, and the merger was completed on 27 December 2000. The resulting company was GlaxoSmithKline, later known as GSK plc. Glaxo Wellcome's business, brands, employees and research programs were absorbed into the new group, making the company a predecessor rather than a continuing operating brand.

• 2000

  Glaxo Wellcome merges into GlaxoSmithKline

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The combination with SmithKline Beecham was completed on 27 December, ending Glaxo Wellcome as a separate company.

• 1999

  Glaxo Wellcome ranks among the largest pharmaceutical companies

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The company had become one of the world's largest drug makers, with major positions in asthma and HIV/AIDS treatment.

• 1995

  Glaxo and Wellcome merge

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The merger formed Glaxo Wellcome plc and combined the two companies' global pharmaceutical operations.

• 1995

  Research organization is restructured

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  Glaxo Wellcome cut approximately 10,000 jobs worldwide, closed Beckenham and opened a Medicines Research Centre in Stevenage.

• 1958

  Glaxo acquires Allen & Hanburys

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition added a company with important respiratory-medicine capabilities to Glaxo's portfolio.

• 1947

  Glaxo becomes the group parent

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  A reorganization made Glaxo the parent company and resulted in a London Stock Exchange listing.

• 1935

  Glaxo Laboratories is incorporated in London

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  Glaxo Laboratories became a distinct London-incorporated subsidiary, formalizing the group's pharmaceutical structure.

• 1924

  Glaxo releases its first pharmaceutical product

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  Glaxo entered pharmaceuticals with a vitamin D product after developing from its earlier infant-food business.

• 1902

  Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories open

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The Wellcome organization opened a tropical research laboratory, reflecting its early commitment to scientific and medical research.

• 1880

  Burroughs Wellcome & Company is founded

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome established the pharmaceutical company that became the Wellcome side of Glaxo Wellcome.

• 1873

  Joseph Nathan and Company is founded

  [1]Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org

  The business that would eventually develop into Glaxo began as a general trading company founded by Joseph Edward Nathan in Wellington, New Zealand.

International research-led pharmaceutical company with particular strength in respiratory medicine, HIV/AIDS treatment, anti-infectives and migraine care.

• Respiratory medicine

  Ventolin

  Ventolin was Glaxo Wellcome's principal salbutamol brand for the treatment of asthma and related bronchospasm. It became one of the company's best-known products and represented the strategic importance of respiratory medicine within the Glaxo heritage.

• Migraine medicine

  Imigran

  Imigran was Glaxo Wellcome's brand for a migraine treatment based on sumatriptan. It was one of the company's leading commercial medicines in the late 1990s and helped broaden its portfolio beyond respiratory and anti-infective therapies.

• Antiviral medicine

  Zovirax

  Zovirax was the company's antiviral brand for herpes-virus infections. It was among Glaxo Wellcome's internationally recognized products and formed part of the anti-infective portfolio later inherited by GlaxoSmithKline.

• Antiretroviral medicine

  Retrovir

  Retrovir was Glaxo Wellcome's zidovudine-based antiretroviral product used in HIV treatment. It reflected the company's major position in HIV/AIDS medicines during the 1990s.

• Antiretroviral medicine

  Epivir

  Epivir was the brand name for lamivudine, an antiretroviral medicine used in HIV treatment. It was one of Glaxo Wellcome's most important infectious-disease products and was incorporated into the successor company's portfolio.

• 2000

  Combine with SmithKline BeechamM&A

  Background

  The pharmaceutical sector was undergoing substantial consolidation, and Glaxo Wellcome sought to combine with another major British drug company.

  Action taken

  Glaxo Wellcome agreed to merge with SmithKline Beecham. Completion on 27 December 2000 created GlaxoSmithKline.

  Aftermath

  Glaxo Wellcome ceased to exist as an independent company and its operations became part of GlaxoSmithKline.

  Source

• 1995

  Restructure global research and developmentStrategy

  Background

  The newly formed company sought to integrate two large research organizations and concentrate resources in fewer, larger centers.

  Action taken

  Glaxo Wellcome closed its Beckenham research facility, reduced its worldwide workforce by approximately 10,000 positions and established a Medicines Research Centre in Stevenage.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring created a more concentrated research network but involved substantial job losses and the closure of an established British research site.

  Source

• 1995

  Acquire AffymaxM&A

  Background

  Glaxo Wellcome pursued newer technologies intended to improve pharmaceutical discovery.

  Action taken

  The company acquired California-based Affymax, a company associated with combinatorial chemistry.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added drug-discovery capabilities to Glaxo Wellcome's research platform.

  Source

1. 1Glaxo Wellcomeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2GSK plcen.wikipedia.org