GSK third quarter lifted by specialty medicines, vaccines fall

GSK reported third quarter sales of 8.9 billion pounds, up 5 percent at constant exchange rates, as specialty medicines grew 15 percent and HIV sales rose 10 percent, while vaccine sales fell 2 percent, with the RSV vaccine Arexvy down 24 percent and Shingrix down 5 percent.

Why it matters: The growth engine and the drag are now different businesses: specialty medicines and HIV carry the forecast, which GSK reaffirmed, while the vaccine franchise that powered recent years is shrinking, and investors sold the shares on that split despite core profit beating expectations.

Data as of GSK plc Form 6-K third quarter results, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2026 (accession 0001654954-26-009181) and read in full in this run from the locally cached filing text. All sales, profit and guidance figures are the company's own. The share price reaction is the Guardian's reporting of October 28, 2026, read in full in this run. Developing item.

GSK’s third quarter sales rose 5 percent at constant exchange rates to 8.9 billion pounds, driven by specialty medicines, up 15 percent to 3.9 billion pounds, with HIV sales up 10 percent to 2.1 billion pounds and oncology up 23 percent. Vaccines went the other way, down 2 percent to 2.6 billion pounds: Shingrix fell 5 percent to 0.8 billion pounds and the RSV vaccine Arexvy fell 24 percent to 0.2 billion pounds, partly against tough comparisons a year earlier, while meningitis vaccine sales rose 12 percent. Core operating profit rose 5 percent to 3.1 billion pounds, but total operating profit fell 16 percent after 328 million pounds of major restructuring charges under the company’s Accelerate Growth programme.

GSK reaffirmed its full year 2026 guidance at constant exchange rates, with turnover growth of 3 to 5 percent and core operating profit growth of 7 to 9 percent both expected at the upper half of their ranges, and core earnings per share growth of 7 to 9 percent at the lower half. The market focused on the vaccines decline and the restructuring bill: the shares fell as much as 7 percent in London before paring the loss to 3.8 percent, making GSK the second biggest faller on the FTSE 100 on the day, the Guardian reported.

GSK third quarter lifted by specialty medicines, vaccines fall

Sources