Infectious diseases

Respiratory viruses

We’ve been leaders in delivering medicines that help manage respiratory conditions for over 50 years. Respiratory illnesses - such as flu, bronchitis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), asthma and COPD - have a significant impact on global health. We are committed to driving scientific research that prioritises how we can reduce the burden of respiratory diseases, improve health outcomes, and save lives.

We are also working to stop these illnesses happening in the first place. We research viruses that cause preventable infections which pose a threat to public health, and affect a range of at-risk individuals including older adults and those with certain underlying medical conditions. We are exploring ways to protect against a broader range of viral respiratory infections using advanced vaccine technologies, such as adjuvants and next-generation mRNA.

Anti-infectives research

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) already causes over one million deaths each year. Without urgent action, by 2050 almost 40 million lives will have been lost. Across our pipeline we have over 30 projects relevant to AMR, 12 of them targeting pathogens deemed ‘critical’ or ‘urgent’ by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are actively addressing the challenge of AMR, including the development of novel antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant infections.

AMR is particularly prevalent in low-resource settings. We continue to research treatments against several enteric diseases that contribute to the burden of AMR, including salmonella, typhoid, shigella and paratyphoid fever. We collaborate with governments, international organisations, and academic institutions to share knowledge, resources, and expertise to accelerate the development of new antibiotics, promote responsible use of existing treatments, and implement effective strategies to combat AMR on a global scale.

Drug-resistant infections: People suffering from common infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or gonorrhoea are facing increasing risks of treatment failure due to resistance to currently available antibiotics. UTIs are one of the most frequent clinical bacterial infections in women, accounting for nearly 25% of all infections. Over half of all women are affected by uncomplicated UTI in their lifetime, with between 10-20% already experiencing treatment failure. Globally, the bacteria causing gonorrhoea infection, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has progressively developed resistance to several classes of antibiotics. If left untreated or inadequately treated, gonorrhoea can lead to infertility and other sexual and reproductive health complications. The emergence of new drug-resistant strains is a major concern, with N. gonorrhoeae recognised as a priority pathogen by the WHO.

As resistance to treatments is steadily increasing globally, our growing anti-infectives portfolio demonstrates our continued commitment to innovate in a field where significant unmet medical need remains. We currently have the largest AMR-relevant research and development pipeline in the industry, with more than 30 medicines and vaccines in development, 12 of which target pathogens deemed 'critical' or 'urgent' by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Shingles

Shingles or herpes zoster is a painful and debilitating disease caused by reactivation of the same virus that causes varicella (chickenpox), sometimes with serious consequences like long-term nerve pain and loss of vision. One in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. 

We collaborate with healthcare partners to continuously improve our understanding of shingles and develop innovative solutions that can enhance prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease.

Bacterial infections

Meningitis: One in six people who get bacterial meningitis die and one in five face serious complications. To protect as many children and adolescents as possible, we are working to build a comprehensive understanding of the disease mechanisms to effectively target and treat meningitis. We are deepening our understanding of the different serotypes of the bacteria that cause the disease to help us to innovate so that we can specifically target and combat the strains of bacteria causing meningitis. This approach may offer broader protection and can lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Pneumococcal disease: The name for any illness caused by the streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, such as pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis. Approximately one million children die of pneumococcal disease every year. Vaccines available today only cover about 60% of circulating disease, leaving many vulnerable people at risk of being severely sick or hospitalised with pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis – and even death. Research into vaccines with broader protection aims to enhance our understanding  of how these diseases can be prevented from the start. We are leveraging the MAPS technology in our research on pneumococcal disease exploring its potential to address areas of significant scientific and public health need.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a major health issue affecting more than 250 million people across the world. Yet the WHO estimates only 13% of those living with the virus have received a diagnosis. Almost a million people die each year from hepatitis B and related complications, including liver cancer.

At GSK, we’ve been committed to hepatitis B research for more than 35 years, drawing on our deep expertise in infectious diseases, immunology, and human genetics. Our work has helped to advance scientific understanding of the complex and varied nature of hepatitis B infections—insights that are shaping future approaches to care.

Our research is focused on reducing the need for continued therapy, with the ultimate goal of lowering the long-term risk of liver-related complications for people living with hepatitis B.