GSK says looking at potential licensing for up to 20 drug candidates by 2020

UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) on Tuesday said it is looking at filing for approval of up to 20 drug candidates with regulators before 2020.

Speaking at an investor seminar in New York, the company said seven of these candidates are in advanced late-stage development, with the potential to launch before 2020, with the remainder, being in earlier development, notably in the areas of oncology, immuno-inflammation and respiratory disease. In 2016/2017 GSK has the potential to start Phase II development of about 30 new molecular entities (NMEs) and product line extensions (PLEs) and to start phase III development of about 20 NMEs and PLEs.

GSK also profiled a number of significant material opportunities in late-stage development, including, Nucala (mepolizumab) to treat severe eosinophilic asthma, Shingrix (zoster), a candidate vaccine for the prevention of shingles, sirukumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, daprodustat for anemia, cabotegravir for HIV, a candidate combination vaccine for the prevention of bacterial meningitis and a new inhaled triple therapy for treatment of COPD.