GlaxoSmithKline makes strong Shingrix sales with 3 pct rise in 3rd quarter

Pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline beat expectations with a 3 per cent rise in third-quarter sales and a 10 per cent rise in earnings per share on Wednesday thanks in part to strong demand for its new shingles vaccine Shingrix.

The British company reported sales of 8.09 billion pounds and adjusted earnings per share of 35.5 pence, beating the consensus forecast of 8.02 billion pounds and 33.3 pence. It narrowed its forecast for full-year adjusted EPS growth to 8-10 percent, whether or not a generic competitor to Advair is launched in the United States.