GlaxoSmithKline has been called GSK for years — but the pharma company officially made the move to simplify the name this week.
GlaxoSmithKline is now officially just GSK, the company announced Monday. The company originally said it would change its name in its Q1 2022 earnings release, which was released in April.
In a recent statement, the pharma giant said the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange will soon reflect the new name.
The name GlaxoSmithKline was originally coined when Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham merged 10 years ago. But since then, GSK has often been used both internally and publicly when referring to the company.
The switch to the three-letter acronym may reflect a larger trend where pharma brands are beginning to see simplicity as a positive.
Earlier this year, Sanofi restructured its brand so that its vaccine arm Sanofi Pasteur and specialty care group Sanofi Genzyme would unify under Sanofi. It also launched a new, simplified logo.
In 2020, Seattle Genetics also shortened its name to Seagen.
GSK’s move comes as the British drugmaker is working on a planned de-merger to spin out its consumer healthcare business by July. In February, GSK announced that its consumer healthcare arm would be called Haleon and will include brands such as Sensodyne, Panadol, Advil, Voltaren, Theraflu and Centrum.
