GlaxoSmithKline PLC Q2 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.

Question: Richard Wagner - Wolfe Research, LLC - Analyst : This is [Richard Wagner] with Wolfe Research for Tim Anderson. Question on the COVID vaccine. It's commonly understood that there are 3 major diversified vaccines players: GSK, Sanofi and Merck. Yet all of the leading, the vanguard, COVID-19 vaccine initiatives are by none of the 3 biggies. Instead, they're led by companies that don't at all have the same level of experience in the space. How did we end up in this place? I appreciate that GSK has multiple vaccine collaborations underway, but these are not commonly described as one of the leading programs. Was it because of REFINITIV STREETEVENTS | www.refinitiv.com | Contact Us consent of Refinitiv. 'Refinitiv' and the Refinitiv logo are registered trademarks of Refinitiv and its affiliated companies. JULY 29, 2020 / 1:00PM, GSK.L - Q2 2020 GlaxoSmithKline PLC Earnings Call the traditional vaccine companies feeling like vaccine development would be on the usual protracted timeline or something like that? That's the first question. On belantamab, I know GSK doesn't give single product guidance, but can you at least tell us whether you think this product has the potential to achieve blockbuster levels of sales, meaning crossing the GBP 1 billion or $1 billion threshold at some point?

Question: Kerry Ann Holford - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division - Analyst : A couple of questions. Just quickly on the flu vaccine. I'm just interested to know whether there's any upside to your ability to deliver more than 50 million doses into the U.S. market. Sanofi is committed to ship, I think, 80 million. Just interested to see whether there's any upside to capacity for you. And then just more broadly on the pipeline refresh. Hal, just is this something we should now expect to continue to see from you over the next -- on a 6-monthly basis going forward? And I wonder if you can talk to the reasons why you elected to deprioritize certain assets in the portfolio, the CLL for PI3 kinase and the HIV (inaudible).