The European Commission has given its approval to the merger of Glaxo Wellcome Plc and Smithkline Beecham Plc to form Glaxo Smithkline Plc, subject to a number of products being sold off.
The merged company will be required to outlicense Kytril (granisetron), Famvir (famciclovir), and either Vectavir (penciclovir) cream or Zovirax (aciclovir) ointment/cream for the topical treatment of cold sores. Total sales of these products in the European Economic Area last year were in the region of £50m. In addition, the company would have to outlicense Ariflo (an oral phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease if competing products fail their clinical trials.