Bumper profits posted by pharmaceuticals giant

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline today reported bumper profits of £6.2bn (€10.1bn) for the last year, boosted by sales of its newly launched asthma drug Advair.

The group - the product of the mega-merger between Glaxo Wellcome and Smithkline Beecham - said profits rose 12% in the year to December 31, while sales rose 11% to £20.5bn (€33.6bn).