Chapter 12: Research and innovation at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Aims of the exercise
- To gain an overview of research, including its relevance to global corporate strategy, at GSK
- To appreciate the competitive environment that this – and other – pharmaceutical companies experience
- To assess R&D strategic goals and their implementation at GSK
Getting started
Go to website of GlaxoSmithKline at
www.gsk.com. Here you will find a number of topics in a menu. They include ‘About us’, ‘our products’ and ‘Research and development’. Under ‘About us’, click on ‘strategy’. Here you will find a strategic update document of 26 July 2008, entitled, ‘GSK sets out new strategic priorities’. Read this document. Go back to the home page, and click on the topic, ‘Research and development’. Click on ‘about R&D’. Note the diverse worldwide locations.
Tasks
A. Questions
- Looking at the strategy statement, you will see that GSK’s strategy includes growing a diversified business and delivering products of value. What specifically do they mean by these broad goals? How do these goals reflect the current competitive environment for pharmaceutical companies?
On the ‘Research and development’ home page, click on ‘Collaborations and partnerships’, and read the general introduction. You will find links to CEEDD and ‘Innovation at GSK’, for more details of collaborations. Now, answer the following questions:
- Why are GSK scientists collaborating with outsiders? What do they hope to gain?
- What is the purpose of CEEDD (Centre for excellence in external drug discovery)? How does GSK visualize ‘risk/reward sharing’?
- You will note that GSK produce a number of well-known over-the-counter products. How does consumer healthcare fit in with GSK’s strategic priorities?
B. Reflection
- Reflect on your overall impression of research and innovation at GSK. The company presents itself as a leading research-based company, but it also produces a range of everyday consumer products such as paracetamol tablets. Is its strategy lacking focus, and are its activities spread too thinly across too wide a range of areas?
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