Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

GlaxoSmithKline plc / Pfizer Inc. (Consumer Healthcare Division)

2018 · Asset Purchase · $12.7B · Complete

A joint venture that let GSK and Pfizer merge OTC portfolios (Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum, Panadol) into the category's largest player, with GSK holding 68% control against Pfizer's 32%. The 2022 Haleon spinoff proved the combined business was built to stand alone, not just to bulk up a balance sheet.

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The coverage arc

Dec 19, 2018 CBS News Neutral

Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline consumer healthcare merger to create over the counter drug giant, with GSK holding 68% and Pfizer 32%.

Jun 10, 2022 Wikipedia Neutral

GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer completed a transaction in 2019 to combine their consumer healthcare businesses into a joint venture, which was later spun off as…

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GSK and Pfizer combined their consumer healthcare businesses into a new joint venture, creating the world's largest OTC consumer healthcare company with ~$12.7B in combined annual sales. GSK contributed its consumer healthcare business and retained a 68% stake; Pfizer contributed its consumer healthcare business for a 32% equity stake. Pfizer received board representation (3 of 9 seats). The JV expected $650M in peak cost synergies. GSK later demerged the business as Haleon plc in July 2022.

Key facts

Disease & market context

Oral Health

$50.0B Global consumer healthcare/OTC market

Disease Overview

Consumer healthcare encompasses OTC medications, oral care, vitamins/supplements, and wellness products. The GSK-Pfizer JV combined leading brands (Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum, Voltaren) and was later spun off as Haleon in 2022.

Competitive Landscape

Haleon (Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum, Theraflu), J&J Consumer (Tylenol, Motrin), Bayer Consumer (Aleve, Claritin), Reckitt (Mucinex, Gaviscon), P&G Health (Vicks, Pepto). Key trend: premiumization and digital health integration.

Pain Relief

$50.0B Global consumer healthcare/OTC market

Disease Overview

Consumer healthcare encompasses OTC medications, oral care, vitamins/supplements, and wellness products. The GSK-Pfizer JV combined leading brands (Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum, Voltaren) and was later spun off as Haleon in 2022.

Competitive Landscape

Haleon (Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum, Theraflu), J&J Consumer (Tylenol, Motrin), Bayer Consumer (Aleve, Claritin), Reckitt (Mucinex, Gaviscon), P&G Health (Vicks, Pepto). Key trend: premiumization and digital health integration.

Vitamins/Supplements

$50.0B Global consumer healthcare/OTC market

Disease Overview

Consumer healthcare encompasses OTC medications, oral care, vitamins/supplements, and wellness products. The GSK-Pfizer JV combined leading brands (Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum, Voltaren) and was later spun off as Haleon in 2022.

Competitive Landscape

Haleon (Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum, Theraflu), J&J Consumer (Tylenol, Motrin), Bayer Consumer (Aleve, Claritin), Reckitt (Mucinex, Gaviscon), P&G Health (Vicks, Pepto). Key trend: premiumization and digital health integration.

Cold/Flu

$50.0B Global consumer healthcare/OTC market

Disease Overview

Consumer healthcare encompasses OTC medications, oral care, vitamins/supplements, and wellness products. The GSK-Pfizer JV combined leading brands (Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum, Voltaren) and was later spun off as Haleon in 2022.

Competitive Landscape

Haleon (Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum, Theraflu), J&J Consumer (Tylenol, Motrin), Bayer Consumer (Aleve, Claritin), Reckitt (Mucinex, Gaviscon), P&G Health (Vicks, Pepto). Key trend: premiumization and digital health integration.

Deal timeline

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Pfizer Inc. (Consumer Healthcare Division) (this deal)2018$12.7B76
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Theravance, Inc.2012$213M82
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Tesaro Inc.2018$5.1B79
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Novartis Consumer Healthcare JV2018$13.0B74
GlaxoSmithKline plc / ID Biomedical Corporation2005$1.4B64
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Vir Biotechnology Inc.2020$595M51
GlaxoSmithKline plc / Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc.2007$1.6B47

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