Glaxo sells 25 brands to Aspen

GlaxoSmithKline, Britain's biggest pharmaceuticals company, has pocketed £172m from the sale of 25 drugs to Australia's Aspen.

It is part of the drug maker's clear-out of some of its smaller medicines and over-the-counter treatments. The brands it sold yesterday include the herpes treatment Valtrex, epilepsy drug Lamictal and the antibiotic Amoxil. The 25 products together bought in sales of £83m last year.

The company said its focus was now on priority brands, products and pipeline opportunities that has long-term growth potential.