GSK Plc (LSE:GSK) reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results on Tuesday, driven by continued momentum in its Specialty Medicines and Vaccines businesses, while announcing a major three-year cost-saving initiative aimed at supporting future growth.
Second-quarter turnover reached £8.41 billion, ahead of the analyst consensus estimate of £8.24 billion.
New Cost-Saving Plan to Support Drug Pipeline
The pharmaceutical group introduced a new restructuring programme, named “Accelerate Growth”, which is expected to generate annual savings of £1.9 billion by 2029.
The initiative is projected to cost approximately £2.4 billion in total, including around £2.1 billion in cash expenditure.
GSK said the savings would be reinvested into its late-stage research pipeline while helping to protect profit margins as its HIV treatment dolutegravir approaches patent expiry between 2028 and 2030.
The company also increased its expectations for clinical development, saying it now plans to begin more than 20 late-stage clinical trials during 2026, compared with its previous target of 10.
Management identified seven potential medicines across 18 disease areas, including cancer, respiratory disease, liver disease and vaccines, that it believes could offer improvements over existing treatments.
Most restructuring costs associated with the programme are expected to be recognised during 2026 and 2027.
Profit Exceeds Market Expectations
Core operating profit rose to £2.80 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of £2.68 billion.
Core profit before taxation reached £2.68 billion, ahead of the expected £2.52 billion, while core earnings per share came in at 50.5 pence, comfortably above the analyst consensus of 47.1 pence.
GSK also declared a second-quarter dividend of 17 pence per share, matching market expectations.
Specialty Medicines and Vaccines Continue to Drive Growth
Sales from the Specialty Medicines division increased 14% to £3.8 billion.
Within the segment, Oncology revenue rose 17%, while HIV sales increased 10%.
Vaccines revenue climbed 8% to £2.3 billion, supported by Shingrix sales of £0.9 billion, up 3%, and Meningitis vaccine sales of £0.2 billion, which more than doubled from a year earlier.
General Medicines revenue declined 9% to £2.3 billion, with Trelegy sales falling 7% to £0.8 billion.
Positive Cancer Trial and New UK Research Investment
GSK also reported positive late-stage trial results in China for its cancer treatment risvutatug rezetecan (Ris-Rez), which slowed disease progression in patients with relapsed osteosarcoma.
The study was conducted by GSK’s partner Hansoh Pharma. The company said the findings build on previous positive late-stage results for the same treatment in advanced lung cancer, making Ris-Rez the only medicine of its type to demonstrate successful late-stage outcomes across more than one cancer indication.
Separately, GSK announced plans to establish a new 300,000-square-foot research and development centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in the UK.
The facility will accommodate more than 1,000 scientists working across Oncology, Respiratory, Hepatology, Vaccines and HIV research.
The company will invest £400 million over the next three years in the project. As part of the plan, GSK will gradually relocate employees from its Stevenage research site by 2029 while upgrading its laboratories in Ware, Hertfordshire.
“This investment will accelerate our R&D and help us deliver new, competitive products. It integrates GSK further into one of the world’s leading centres of knowledge and demonstrates the attractiveness of the UK’s life sciences ecosystem,” chief executive Luke Miels said in a statement.
Full-Year Outlook Maintained
GSK reaffirmed its outlook for 2026, continuing to expect annual turnover growth of between 3% and 5%, with performance anticipated to be towards the upper end of that range.
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