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This press release is intended for business journalists and analysts/investors. Please note that this release may not have been issued in every market in which GSK operates.

GSK charitable support valued at GBP282 million in 2007

Issued –  Wednesday 19 March 2008, London, UK

GlaxoSmithKline today reported its 2007 global giving to charitable initiatives totalled £282 million, equivalent to almost 4% of pre-tax profits for the company (with the FTSE 100 average around 1%). Donations of albendazole treatments for the company’s flagship programme to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (commonly known as elephantiasis) were valued at £14 million, bringing the total number of treatments given since GSK made its commitment 10 years ago to almost 750 million. 

Commenting on the figures JP Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline said: “I want GSK to be part of global healthcare solutions, not only through our medicines and vaccines, but also through our public health programs and work with communities. This is embedded in our business, not just an ‘add on’; whether it is eliminating LF, supporting HIV communities, fighting malaria, or preventing diabetes. Our partnerships offer more than a helping hand; they are transforming the lives and prospects of people all over the world.”

GSK supports health and education programmes in more than 100 countries through donations of medicines and through long-term partnerships that provide financial and practical support.The £282 million investment includes product donations valued at £224 million, cash giving of £41 million and other in-kind donations, such as equipment, valued at £3 million. The costs to administer and deliver these programmes were £14 million.

The £224 million of product donations included:

* A continuation of the Lymphatic Filariasis elimination programme which since 1998 has seen the donation of almost 750 million albendazole treatments by GSK. This programme, now in the tenth year of GSK’s involvement working with the World Health Organization and other partners aims to eliminate LF by 2020.

* £15 million of humanitarian product donations for the most impoverished communities and international relief efforts, including the cyclone in Bangladesh and floods in Mexico. GSK provides significant quantities of essential quality medicines through a proven crisis response process.

* £194 million provided via Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) for low income patients in the USA. GSK provides $1 million in medicines per day to patients who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions.  These include products that are able to be used in an outpatient setting across all therapeutic areas, such as: respiratory, psychiatric, neurology, metabolic, CV.

Cash donations of £41 million delivered through partnerships with hundreds of charitable organisations.

Over £20 million was directed to global and local health programmes. With GSK funding the Malaria Consortium is delivering ‘Mobilising for Malaria’, a programme to increase awareness and mobilise resources for this killer disease. In its 15^th year, GSK’s Positive Action for HIV and AIDS delivered effective education, prevention and health care services in 19 countries. GSK’s PHASE (Personal Hygiene And Sanitation Education) programme continues to grow now reaching half a million school children in 12 countries, helping to prevent diarrhoeal diseases through better hand-washing.

* Donations of over £11 million supported education programmes, including science education and literacy. Through Crest Star Investigators school children will have access to engaging science activities at their UK after-school clubs. The target is to reach 5,000 schools and 55,000 children by 2010. GSK’s ‘Science in the Summer’ enables 6000 children in Philadelphia to participate in hands-on experiments in libraries. GSK continues to support the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, a business coalition staffed by the Business Civic Leadership Center of the US Chamber of Commerce. This is aimed at improving education and creating a skilled workforce for the future.

In addition to the company donations GlaxoSmithKline employees contributed more than £3.5 million to charities in the UK and US through employee-organised giving programmes. Many also gave their time and skills to their local communities. Further details of GSK’s giving and activities relating to other corporate responsibility areas are published today in GSK Corporate Responsibility report on gsk.com.

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