Our step-change in growth
-
Expected sales growth of more than 5%* and adjusted operating profit growth of more than 10%* on a compound basis 2021-26
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R&D focused on the science of the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies
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Positively impacting the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of 2030
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Leading ESG performance to be maintained
*View our cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
ANNUAL REPORT 2022
2022 was a landmark year for GSK. Following the demerger of our consumer healthcare business to form Haleon in July, we are now a fully focused biopharma company.
Business model
We improve the health of hundreds of millions of people around the world by discovering, developing and manufacturing innovative vaccines, specialty and general medicines at scale.
We invest in outstanding people
Central to our success are our people. We also collaborate with world-leading experts and form strategic partnerships to complement our existing capabilities.
The value we create: now and in the future
- The greatest contribution we make is to improve the health of people around the world. In 2022 that included delivering 2.3 billion packs of medicines and doses of vaccines.
- Looking ahead, GSK has a clear ambition to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of 2030.
- We also create value for shareholders by investing in our business to provide shareholder returns, and in 2022 we paid a dividend of 61.25 pence per share.
- We have made commitments to a step-change in growth and performance over the period to 2026.
In recent years, we have transformed GSK to improve performance, strengthen capabilities and prepare for a new future. We have done this by prioritising Innovation, Performance and Trust across the entire company – driving a multi-year programme to improve R&D productivity, commercial execution, group structure and capital allocation.
| Innovation | Performance | Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Innovation is critical to how we improve health and create financial value. In 2022, our total R&D expenditure was £5.5 billion, up by 9% AER on 2021. We continue to believe the rapid convergence of science and technology in biopharmaceuticals provides significant opportunity, which is why our R&D will continue to focus on the science of the immune system, human genetics and use of advanced technologies. | Performance is delivered by investing effectively in our business and our people and executing competitively. Over the next five years, with 2021 as a base year, we expect GSK to deliver highly attractive growth - with sales and adjusted operating profit of more than 5% and more than 10% respectively on a compound basis. | Being a responsible business is an integral part of our strategy. We apply our strengths and take action in the areas that can most positively impact patients, society and our people over the long-term. This includes pricing and access, sustainability, global health and health security, diversity, equity and inclusion, product governance and operating standards.
|
Growth across business:
- £29.3 billion Group turnover +19% AER, +13% CER
- Specialty Medicines £11.3 billion +37% AER, +29% CER
- Vaccines £7.9 billion +17% AER, +11% CER
- General Medicines £10.1 billion +5% AER, +1% CER
- COVID-19 solutions sales £2.3 billion
Cost discipline supports delivery of adjusted EPS growth:
- Total EPS 110.8p +34% AER, +18% CER
- Adjusted EPS 139.7p +27% AER, +15% CER
- Total operating profit £6.4 billion +48% AER, +31% CER
- Adjusted operating profit £8.2 billion +26% AER, +14% CER
- Dividend of 61.25p
Continued momentum in R&D delivery and strengthening of pipeline:
- More than 20 new approvals since 2017
- Innovative pipeline of 69 vaccines and specialty medicines based on the science of the immune system; 18 in phase III/registration
- Seven new collaborations and acquisitions including with Affinivax, Sierra Oncology and Spero Therapeutics
Leading ESG performance:
- 1st in the Access to Medicine Index for the eighth consecutive time
- 2nd in the pharmaceuticals industry for the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, with a score of 86 (as at 17 February 2023)
- 13% reduction in indirect scope 3 carbon emissions, based on latest available data for scope 3 emissions between 2020-2021
Our long-term priorities
We prioritise Innovation, Performance and Trust to be ambitious for patients, shareholders and our people.
We’re uniting science, technology and talent to make a difference in more people’s lives. We don’t just want to find new, better medicines and vaccines. We’re working to get better at finding them in ways that are faster, more effective, and more predictable. This is reflected in the continued success of our R&D pipeline, which saw significant progress in 2022. Strategic partnerships are critical to opening up new avenues of discovery. We have important collaborations, including with the University of Oxford on neurodegenerative diseases, Kings College London on cancer treatment and 23andMe on genetics and genomics.
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New approvals since 2017
>20 -
Vaccines and medicines in phase III/registration
18 -
Vaccines and specialty medicines in our pipeline
69
We’re confident in our future. Our bold ambitions for patients are reflected in our commitments to a step-change in growth and performance over the period to 2026. This means more GSK vaccines and medicines, including innovative new products, will reach more people than ever before.
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Packs of medicines and doses of vaccines delivered in 2022
2.3bn -
Dividend we paid per share in 2022
61.25p
Being a responsible business is an integral part of our strategy. We apply our strengths and take action in the areas that can most positively impact patients, society and our people over the long-term. This includes pricing and access, sustainability, global health and health security, diversity, equity and inclusion, product governance and operating standards.
GSK Responsibility
ESG Performance Report 2022 (PDF - 1.3MB)
Business sustainability
ESG performance
ESG is an integral part of our strategy and our investment case. It is a key driver in our goal to deliver health impact and shareholder returns as well as being core to the motivation of our people. We will pursue a focused approach to ESG, driven by our strengths, informing our strategy and addressing the key challenges of our industry over the long-term.
ESG ratings performance
We have maintained our acknowledged leadership in ESG, and this continues to be a key driver in our goal to deliver health impact and shareholder returns. Detailed below is how we perform in key ESG ratings that we are frequently asked about by investors.
| External benchmarking | Current rating |
Previous rating |
Relative to peers |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment | 86/100 | 88/100 | 2nd in the pharmaceutical industry group |
| Access to Medicines Index | 4.06 | 4.23 | 1st in the Index |
| Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark | 84% | 86% | Leader |
| CDP Climate change | A- | A- | |
| CDP Water security | B | B | |
| CDP Forests (palm oil) | A | B | |
| CDP Forests (timber) | B | B | |
| CDP Supplier engagement rating | Leader | Leader | |
| Sustainalytics | 18.8 Low risk rating | 18.9 Low risk rating | 3/473 subindustry group. A lower score represents lower risk. |
| MSCI | AA | AA | |
| Moody's ESG solutions | 61 | 61 | 2nd in the pharmaceutical sector |
| ISS Corporate Rating | B+ | B | |
| FTSE4Good | Member of FTSE4Good Index since 2004 | Member of FTSE4Good Index since 2004 |
Scores as at 2 March 2023
Governance
We are committed to operating at the highest standards of corporate governance. We believe our governance structure underpins our ability to deliver the Group's strategy to create long-term value and benefit for our shareholders and stakeholders.
View information on how GSK is governed, including details on our Board Committees and Management Committees, global compliance and Policies, codes and standards on our Governance section.
Go to GovernanceRisk management
Identifying, evaluating and managing risks
Our risk management and internal control framework is well embedded and provides the ability for the Board to evaluate and oversee how the company manages principal and emerging risks in line with our long-term objectives. We have a company-wide policy that sets out the requirements, roles and responsibilities for the management and governance of risks, controls and supporting guidance on the essential elements of our internal control framework. We routinely evaluate our framework for improvements.
Governance
The Board oversees our risk management system and establishes our risk appetite, supported by the Audit & Risk Committee (ARC). The Corporate Responsibility Committee (CRC) and Science Committee further assess the effectiveness of risk management strategies pertinent to their defined remits. Our Risk Oversight & Compliance Council (ROCC) helps the ARC and CRC to oversee the risks, and the strategies used to address them. Risk management and compliance boards across the Group promote the ‘tone from the top’. They also establish our risk culture and oversee the effectiveness of risk management activities, as well as communicating information about internal controls.
Our business is accountable for delivering on its objectives in line with its established risk appetite. An Enterprise Risk Owner is responsible for each principal risk, with oversight by a GLT member. Risk owners report risk and mitigation to ROCC, the GLT and the appropriate Board committee. Legal and Compliance support these efforts by advising on our business strategies, activities, risks and controls, and Audit & Assurance provides assessments of the adequacy and effectiveness of our framework.
Considering current and emerging risks.
We continuously evaluate our risks. Our risk assessment process considers the likelihood and impact of risks, and the timescale over which a risk could occur. We consider both current and emerging risks that could affect our ability to achieve our long-term objectives. Emerging risks are those on the three-year horizon, in line with our viability statement. We also define risks in this way if we need to know more about how likely they are to materialise, or what impact they’d have if they did. We will evaluate if additional investigation is required before classifying them as principal risks.
Risk management and compliance boards at all levels of the organisation identify emerging risks on an ongoing basis, and ROCC discusses emerging risks at each meeting. We also scan the risk horizon throughout the year to identify external trends that may be opportunities and/or emerging risks and monitor our business activities and internal environment for new, emerging and changing risks.
ROCC conducts an annual risk review to assess principal and emerging risks for the company. This review is supported by extensive analysis of external trends and insights, senior level interviews and recommendations from risk management and compliance boards and risk owners. ROCC shares this annual review with the ARC and Board for assessment and this forms the basis for the following year’s risk management focus.
2023 principal risks summary
We outline below the principal risks and uncertainties relevant to GSK’s business, financial condition and operations that may affect our performance and ability to achieve our objectives. These are the risks that we believe could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Operating in the pharmaceutical sector carries various inherent risks and uncertainties that may affect our business.
Patient safety
The risk that GSK, including our third parties, fails to appropriately collect, assess, follow up, or report human safety information, including adverse events, from all potential sources or that GSK potentially fails to appropriately act on any relevant findings that may affect the benefit-risk profile of a medicine or vaccine in a timely manner.
- Product governance
- Our approach to clinical trials (PDF - 198kb)
- Cloning and stem cell technologies (PDF - 185kb)
- The convention on biological diversity (PDF - 240kb)
- Public disclosure of clinical research (PDF - 175kb)
- The care, welfare and treatment of animals (PDF - 202kb)
- Pharmacovigilance (PDF - 171kb)
- Falsified and substandard healthcare products (PDF - 200kb)
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 258kb)
- Anti-bribery and corruption policy (PDF - 330kb)
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
Product quality
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to ensure appropriate controls and governance of quality for development and commercial products are in place; compliance with industry practices and regulations in manufacturing and distribution activities; and terms of GSK product licenses and supporting regulatory activities are met.
Financial controls and reporting
The risk that GSK fails to comply with current tax laws; fails to report accurate financial information in compliance with accounting standards and applicable legislation; or incurs significant losses due to treasury activities.
Legal matters
The risk that GSK potentially fails to comply with a wide range of laws, rules and regulations around the world. These include, but are not limited to, laws concerning anti-bribery and corruption, anti-trust and sanctions. Any failure to comply with these may result in GSK being investigated by relevant government agencies and authorities and/or in legal proceedings being filed against us. Government investigations and litigations, including patent litigation and product liability litigation, can be unpredictable and regardless of their outcome, could be costly, require significant management attention, and damage our reputation.
Commercial practices
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially engage in commercial activities that fail to comply with laws, regulations, industry codes, and internal controls and requirements.
- Competitiveness and investment criteria - (PDF - 182kb)
- Marketing practices and scientific engagement (PDF - 155kb)
- GSK pharma and vaccine code of practice for promotion and scientific engagement (PDF - 219kb)
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 258kb)
- Anti-bribery and corruption policy (PDF - 330kb)
- Engaging with HCPs
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
Scientific and patient engagement
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to engage externally to gain insights, educate and communicate on the science of our medicines and associated disease areas, and provide grants and donations in a legitimate and transparent manner compliant with laws, regulations, industry codes and internal controls and requirements.
- Engagement with patient organizations (PDF - 159kb)
- Marketing practices and scientific engagement (PDF - 155kb)
- Political advocacy (PDF - 199kb)
- GSK pharma and vaccine code of practice for promotion and scientific engagement (PDF - 219kb)
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 258kb)
- Anti-bribery and corruption policy (PDF - 330kb)
- Engaging with HCPs
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
Data ethics and privacy
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to ethically collect; use; re-use through artificial intelligence, data analytics or automation; secure; share and destroy personal information in accordance with laws, regulations, and internal controls and requirements.
Research practices
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to adequately conduct ethical and credible pre-clinical and clinical research, collaborate in research activities compliant with laws, regulations, and internal controls and requirements.
- Our approach to clinical trials (PDF - 198kb)
- Cloning and stem cell technologies (PDF - 185kb)
- The convention on biological diversity (PDF - 240kb)
- Public disclosure of clinical research (PDF - 175kb)
- The care, welfare and treatment of animals (PDF - 202kb)
- Use of animals
- Pharmacovigilance (PDF - 171kb)
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 258kb)
- Anti-bribery and corruption policy (PDF - 330kb)
- Engaging with HCPs
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
Environment, health and safety (EHS)
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to ensure appropriate controls and governance of the organization's assets, facilities, infrastructure, and business activities, including execution of hazardous activities, handling of hazardous materials, or release of substances harmful to the environment that disrupts supply or harms employees, third parties or the environment.
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 244kb)
- Hazardous chemicals management (PDF - 244kb)
- Genetically modified micro-organisms and EHS (PDF - 139kb)
- Nanotechnology (PDF - 207kb)
- Pharmaceuticals in the environment (PDF - 218kb)
- Environmental sustainability (PDF - 331kb)
- Environment, Health and Safety (PDF - 144kb)
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
- Environment
Information and cyber security
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to ensure appropriate controls and governance to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from cyber incidents through unauthorised access, disclosure, theft, unavailability or corruption of GSK's information, key systems, or technology infrastructure in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, internal controls and requirements.
Supply continuity
The risk that GSK or our third parties potentially fail to deliver a continuous supply of compliant finished product or respond effectively to a crisis incident in a timely manner to recover and sustain critical supply operations.
- Pandemic preparedness (PDF - 300kb)
- Third party oversight programme - working with third parties (PDF - 258kb)
- The Code (PDF - 2.4mb) and Code Hub (PDF - 223kb)
Other risks
Risks associated with COVID-19
The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on GSK’s trading performance and all its principal risks is continually assessed, with appropriate mitigation plans put in place on an as-needed basis. In 2022, GSK was encouraged by the uptake of its vaccines and medicines. The company remains confident in the underlying demand for its vaccines and medicines, especially given the significant number of COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters administered worldwide. However, the pandemic remains a dynamic ongoing risk, with the WHO continuing to monitor the emergence of new variants. The current rate of infection is predominantly driven by the circulation of the BA.5 subvariant and its descendent lineages, which are still the dominant subvariants of Omicron globally. While COVID-19 vaccines are being updated with Omicron variants to provide broader immunity against circulating and emerging variants, these subvariants and potential future variants of concern could potentially impact GSK’s trading results, clinical trials, supply continuity and its employees materially.
Risks
Find more information in our annual report in the sections on Risk management (page 51) and Principal risks and uncertainties (page 285). You can also explore our Code and all our policies:
Financial highlights 2022
*Numbers might not add-up due to rounding. Please read the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements and the definitions and reconciliations for non-IFRS measures on pages 67 to 69 of the full year results.
