OUR COMMITMENT TO BRITISH COLUMBIA

GlaxoSmithKline is committed to the development of strong collaborations and vibrant partnerships that improve the quality of life for Canadians and people around the world. Across the country, GlaxoSmithKline works with governments, research institutions, patient groups, health-care professionals and community organizations to provide real solutions to the health-care needs of patients. Together, we can help Canadians to do more, feel better and live longer.  
 

PEOPLE AND FACILITIES

• GlaxoSmithKline has more than 60 employees in British Columbia, with a corporate office in Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• GlaxoSmithKline invested more than $178 million in Canadian research and development (R&D) in 2007 alone, ranking it among the top 15 contributors to R&D in Canada, across all industries

 

• GlaxoSmithKline’s $22 million Pathfinders Fund for Leaders in Canadian Health Science Research was established to help Canada become a world leader in R&D. This initiative encourages health science research and fosters innovation in Canadian medical schools. As part of this commitment:
  
  
  • GlaxoSmithKline has committed $1 million over three years to COPD partnership programs at the University of British Columbia.

 

CLINICAL RESEARCH

• In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline invested close to $45 million in clinical trials in Canada, conducting more than 80 trials and enrolling well over 2,900 patients. This represents approximately six per cent of the company’s worldwide clinical trial program. The Clinical Development Group typically works on more than 35 different chemical compounds varying from phase I to phase IV trials.
  
  

• GSK supported 60 academic research proposals in 2007 with physicians across Canada.
  
  

• In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline invested more than $3 million in clinical trials in British Columbia.

 

INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

• GlaxoSmithKline is a proud supporter of patient association education and advocacy programs in British Columbia.
  
  

• PRIISME®, GlaxoSmithKline’s community-based chronic disease management program, helps health-care providers support patients suffering from asthma, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In partnership with the Vancouver Coastal Health Region, GSK has initiated two important lung health PRIISME® projects. With the support of $342,000, the St. Paul’s Hospital COPD and Vancouver General Hospital Asthma PRIISME® projects have targeted chronic lung diseases to improve their management, improve the quality of life for patients and reduce utilization of healthcare services.
  
  

• In British Columbia, GSK has sponsored six PRIISME® projects: one project with St. Paul’s Hospital; one project with Vancouver General Hospital; two projects with Fraser Health in Surrey and Abbotsford; one project with Vancouver Island Health Authority; and one project with Northern Health.

• In partnership with the Frazer Health Region, GlaxoSmithKline has provided $200,000 in start-up funding to support two separate PRIISME® Chronic Disease Management projects, one in diabetes and one in COPD. In addition to improving management of these chronic diseases, these projects target reductions in healthcare utilization and optimal use of medications through dissemination of clinical practice guidelines.

• In partnership with Vancouver Island Health Authority, GSK has recently initiated a chronic disease management project in diabetes with a funding commitment of $225,000.

• GlaxoSmithKline created Community Asthma Care Centres (CACCs) in partnership with Canadian hospitals. Operating in more than 50 locations across the country, CACCs help patients to better manage their asthma through education, resulting in significant savings to the health-care system.

• In British Columbia, there are 13 CACCs located across the province. These include Abbotsford, Burnaby, Castlegar, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, Trail, Vernon and Victoria.

 

COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS

• GlaxoSmithKline is committed to giving back to the communities in which our employees live and work, and annually donates a minimum of one per cent of pre-tax profits through The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and other channels.
  
  

• The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, in conjunction with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and hospice palliative care organizations across the country, launched Living Lessons®. Established in 1998, the national campaign aims to raise awareness of, and support for, hospice palliative care services.
  
  

• GlaxoSmithKline is a leading contributor to Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC), a charitable organization that provides free medications, medical supplies and vaccines donated by Canada’s research-based pharmaceutical companies to developing world countries and disaster areas. Since 1994, GlaxoSmithKline has contributed almost $23 million in humanitarian product donations.

 

For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
Tel: 905 819-3000
www.gsk.ca