Drugmaker GSK cuts back in Africa to hone emerging markets model

Five years ago, forecasters predicted annual African drug sales would reach $45 billion by 2020. FILE PHOTO | NMG

GlaxoSmithKline is cutting back operations in Africa as its new Chief Executive Emma Walmsley seeks to make the British drugmaker more competitive in emerging markets by ditching her predecessor’s expansion plans for the continent.

The move, which a GSK spokesman said on Wednesday would result in an unspecified number of job losses in sub-Saharan Africa, follows disappointing sales for many pharmaceutical companies in the region.

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