In a nondescript laboratory at its sprawling site in Stevenage, north of London, GSK scientists are exploring molecules they hope will be the basis of the next blockbuster cancer drugs.
Most of the work being done here is the pre-clinical development stage but it represents a remarkable about-turn by the UK pharmaceutical group. More than a decade after former chief executive Sir Andrew Witty oversaw GSK’s exit from oncology, the company is setting out its stall in cancer treatment once again.
Witty’s successor, Dame Emma Walmsley, took the key step in 2018 with her first major acquisition, a $5.1bn cash deal for US cancer biotech Tesaro. This gave GSK access to Zejula, a treatment for ovarian cancer, and Jemperli for endometrial cancer. Combined, the two drugs had sales of £1.4bn last year.