GlaxoSmithKline takes measures to support coronavirus fight

As one of the earliest companies entering the China market, as well as one of the most socially responsible multinational pharmaceutical companies, GSK China has made an agile and fast response in medical supplies, financial donation and employee protection to help fight against COVID-19.

On January 24, GSK China donated 2 million yuan (US$286,656) to Chinese Red Cross Foundation to help purchase medical supplies in urgent need. One day later, GSK China employees volunteered to donate and quickly raised more than 300,000 yuan to help purchase masks, goggles and walkie-talkies for front-line healthcare workers. As of now, 79 batches of medical supplies have been delivered and distributed to 36 hospitals in Hubei Province. These include 5,800 masks, 4,579 goggles, 2,800 pairs of gloves and 339 walkie-talkies. 

Meanwhile, GSK's Tianjin site donated 50 DuPont protective suits on January 27 for Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area to help ensure that people who are working in the impacted area have adequate protection.

In addition to financial donation for purchasing medical supplies, GSK China has also contributed with its consumer healthcare products. On February 2, Sino-American Tianjin SmithKline & French Laboratories successfully delivered 5,000 boxes of Fenbid (300mg) for Huoshenshan Hospital in seven days to support prevention and control against the virus in Wuhan.

During the epidemic prevention and control phase, GSK actively cooperated with medical institutions and companies to jointly accelerate the R&D process of candidate coronavirus vaccine. On February 3, GSK started a collaboration with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to make the vaccine adjuvant technology available to scientists working on candidate vaccines to prevent the virus. 

On February 24, Clover Biopharmaceuticals, a China-based biotechnology company, announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with GSK for its protein-based coronavirus vaccine candidate (COVID-19 S-Trimer). GSK will provide Clover with its pandemic adjuvant system in this cooperation.

Adhering to the commitment of helping people do more, feel better and live longer, GSK has paid close attention to the health condition of the front-line healthcare providers, who are working tirelessly in the struggle against the outbreak. By March 6, GSK Consumer Healthcare had donated 34,560 bottles of Centrum multivitamin to 17 hospitals in Wuhan, helping doctors protect their own health during the fight against the virus.

To guarantee the regular supply of products during the epidemic period, employees of GSK China gave up their holidays and resumed work. On January 28, some employees in Sino-American Tianjin SmithKline & French Laboratories returned to work even during the holiday to ensure delivery of Fenbid and Panadol which are on the reference list of the first batch of medicines reserved for the prevention and control of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus. GSK's Suzhou site also kept running several manufacturing lines during the holiday to ensure the supply of Centrum series and Robitussin products.