GSK shares dive as weaker sales and mounting costs unnerve investors

British pharma company reports declining profits amid concerns over looming patent loss of its blockbuster HIV drug

Shares in GSK slid on Wednesday despite the UK drugmaker reporting better-than-expected financial results, as investors were unnerved by weaker vaccine sales, restructuring charges and its overall outlook.

Britain’s second-biggest pharmaceutical company reported a 19% decline in pre-tax profit to £1.9bn in the July to September quarter and £318m of restructuring charges, with more to come.