GSK takes minority stake in newly formed Convergence Pharmaceuticals

Issued: London UK – LSE announcement

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) today announced that it has taken an 18% minority equity stake in Convergence Pharmaceuticals Limited, a new biotechnology company that will focus on the development of new analgesic compounds. Convergence Pharmaceuticals, which was officially launched today, recently raised around $35.4 million in Series A financing from a syndicate of leading European and US life science investors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Convergence Pharmaceuticals has acquired two clinical stage assets from GSK together with rights to certain earlier stage compounds and contributions in kind. In return, Convergence Pharmaceuticals has issued shares to GSK to the value of $4.7 million. These two clinical stage compounds, formerly GSK1014802 and GSK2197944, target voltage-gated ion channels. GSK will also be eligible to receive additional shares on completion of asset milestones. In addition, GSK has taken up an observer role on the board of Convergence Pharmaceuticals.

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK' s operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the 'Business Review' in the company' s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2009.