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GSK PLC on Wednesday reported a more than 50% increase in profit in the first quarter of 2025, driven by rising sales in its Specialty Medicines division. The London-based pharmaceutical maker said pretax profit was £2.11 billion in the three months that ended March 31, up 56% from £1.36 billion a year before, as sales rose by 2.1% to £7.52 billion from £7.36 billion. Sales were up 4% on year at constant currency rates. Core operating profit was £2.53 billion, up 4% on a year before. Core operating profit margin was 33.7%, up 0.5 percentage point. Core earnings per share were 44.9 pence, up 4%. GSK declared a 16p dividend for the first quarter, the same as for the fourth quarter of 2025 and in line with its total expected payout for 2025 of 64p. GSK paid out 61p in dividends in 2024. It also said on Wednesday it has completed £273 million of its planned £2 billion share buyback. GSK shares were up 4.6% to 1,497.50 pence in London on Wednesday morning. The wider FTSE 100 index was marginally up. The rise in sales was led by Speciality Medicines. This division includes HIV, respiratory, immunology and inflammation and oncology treatments, all of which had strong performances, GSK said. Sales in Speciality Medicines was £2.93 billion in first quarter, up 16% from a year before. Within this, the increase in Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation sales was 26%, mostly comprising sales of the drugs Nucala and Benlysta. Elsewhere, sales in the Vaccines division were down 8% to £2.10 billion, mostly due to lower demand for lower demand for Arexvy and Shingrix, the company said. Looking ahead, GSK said it still expects 3% to 5% sales growth in 2025. Core operating profit and core EPS both are expected to increase by 6% to 8%. In 2024, sales totalled £31.38 billion. Core operating profit was £9.15 billion. Core EPS was 159.3p. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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