June 10, 2013

GSK and Nature Medicine both received some weeks ago the same information alleging misrepresentation of data in a research paper written by scientists at GSK’s China research centre and published in Nature Medicine in 2010. The published study was from preclinical, early stage research and did not directly involve patients.

When these allegations came to light we immediately contacted the journal to tell them that we were taking the charges seriously and would be investigating thoroughly. Regretfully, our investigation has established that certain data in the paper were indeed misrepresented. We’ve shared our conclusion that the paper should be retracted and are in the process of asking all of the authors to sign a statement to that effect, according to Nature Medicine’s procedure.

We have taken action in response to these findings, which we have shared with our employees. One individual has been dismissed from GSK; a second has submitted his resignation and three others have been placed on administrative leave, pending a final review.

We are committed to the highest ethical and scientific standards and regulators, physicians and patients can have confidence in the research we carry out.