http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=120120
GSK insists MMR jab is safe as profits rise
By Stephen Foley
15 February 2002
Jean-Pierre Garnier, the chief executive of
GlaxoSmithKline, the UK's biggest pharmaceuticals firm, has launched a staunch
defence of the safety of the company's drugs after a string of health scares.
GSK makes the controversial MMR jab for measles,
mumps and rubella, which some scientists have argued may trigger autism, and
the company said yesterday that it would be launching another combination
vaccine for toddlers later this year.
Mr Garnier said: "MMR is used in 20 countries
and there are many studies showing it is a safe solution to a very serious
problem. The alternative of not vaccinating children is much worse, and it is
surprising there is such strong concern in the UK when we don't see it in other
countries."
He said that the concern over MMR would not derail
the launch of Infanrix, a vaccine against whooping cough, tetanus and
diphtheria, which is one of five new products from GSK due to go on sale this
year. It is also seeking European approval for its four-in-one vaccine, MMR-V,
which will protect against chicken pox as well.
The company's shares have suffered in recent months
from concerns over the safety of Zyban, its anti-smoking drug. There have been
57 deaths where a link to Zyban is suspected, although the UK's Medicines
Control Agency, which has been publicising the figures, stresses that no link
is proven.
Mr Garnier said Zyban users tended to be unhealthy
due to the effects of smoking, and there was no evidence the numbers of deaths
were unusually high. "We are all in favour of this being scrutinised all
the time, because it is not in our interests to have a product on the market
that is not safe or effective."
GSK is also trying to get its Lotronex treatment
for irritable bowel syndrome re-approved for limited use in the US. The drug
was withdrawn last year after being linked to several deaths. Mr Garnier said
the dangers were well understood at the time Lotronex was originally launched
and many former users have been lobbying the US authorities for the drug's
return.
The company unveiled its results yesterday for
2001, the first year since the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham.
The enlarged group's giant salesforce, which numbers 8,000 in the US and 9,000
in Europe, drove revenues to £20.5bn, up 11 per cent. Pre-tax profits were up
12 per cent to £6.2bn for the year.
The marketing muscle turned Advair, its new asthma
drug administered through a disk-shaped inhaler, into one of the most
successful drug launches of all time. After less than a year, it has 4 million
users and brought in sales of £850m to the end of December, making it GSK's
fourth-biggest product.
Mr Garnier recommitted the company to achieving
mid-teens percentage earnings growth this year, but warned that could fall to
little more than 10 per cent in 2003.
Analysts remain concerned that 2003 will be a
difficult year, before GSK's drug pipeline produces new blockbuster products
for launch in 2004 and beyond.
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