NEW DELHI: GlaxoSmithKline Pharma, in its centenary year in India, is transforming into a specialty-driven company and building a preventive healthcare ecosystem led by adult vaccines. As the country’s second-largest drug MNC with nearly 30 crore prescriptions annually, GSK Pharma plans to enter the oncology market with the launch of two major high-value therapies, expanding beyond its legacy offerings in general medicine, its managing director, Bhushan Akshikar, told TOI.

Additionally, the Rs 3,500 crore company will widen its preventive portfolio by introducing more adult vaccines, shifting the focus from traditional infant immunisation to comprehensive preventive healthcare for all ages.
“We remain rooted in our purpose to bring innovation at scale, and with impact,” Akshikar, who completes two years at the helm, said.
“After our renewed focus as a biopharma company globally, we have rejigged and contemporised our portfolio here, and growth is now led by innovation. Also, newer therapies are firing up sales,” he said.
Elaborating on the pricing strategy, he said, “we’ve always had tiered pricing in India. If you look at our entire portfolio, whether it is general medicines, where we operate with a commoditised category like paracetamol, and yet we have a brand like Calpol, in the same price band.” (Paracetamol is part of the National List of Essential Medicines and price control)