GSK_ Annual_Report_2021-22

31 chain. The government also needs to provide the right enablers and a supportive business environment for growth. 3. Company overview We aim to bring differentiated, high quality and essential pharmaceuticals and vaccines to as many people as possible, with our global business, scientific and technical know-how along with a diverse talent pool. Our greatest contribution is towards improving the health of people around the world and this clear ambition has resulted in our parent company, GSK plc, being ranked number one yet again in the Access to Medicine Index. Our three priorities - Innovation, Performance and Trust - help us realise our ambition for patients and drive robust growth for our shareholders and people. Business performance Pharmaceuticals Our business continuity measures ensured consistent growth of our focus brands, with Augmentin, Calpol, Ceftum, T-Bact and Neosporin featuring amongst the top brands in the Indian Pharmaceuticals Market (IPM). However, some of our leading categories such as Dermatology had early setbacks due to physical distancing restrictions during the Covid-induced lockdowns. Our pharmaceutical manufacturing team worked round the clock to fulfil increased demand for our key brands, especially for Calpol (paracetamol). This effort ensured that patients continued to have access to this important medication during the pandemic. The first quarter of the financial year coincided with the second wave of the pandemic and presented an opportunity to serve significant sections of our population with brands like Calpol. Therefore, many of our key brands witnessed strong growth fueled by disciplined execution, enhanced digital capabilities and agility in the market, resulting in again in market share and higher-than-market evolution index. Adapting to the Covid lockdowns, your Company’s field force remained active on the ground, using digital channels effectively to engage remotely with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). Your Company’s robust digital infrastructure proved to be a reliable means of communicating the science behind our medicines. Touchpoints were increased to over 40 million across teams through enhanced use of tele- calling, webinars and emailers, coupled with adoption of technology platforms for virtual detailing such as Veeva Engage. Your Company also successfully launched a line extension with Augmentin ES deploying technology in reaching out to key specialists in ear, nose and throat (ENT) and Paediatrics practice. Throughout the period of multiple pandemic waves, your Company focused on skill enhancement of its field force to upgrade their skills and efficiencies amid the new norms of functioning. As a result, your Company’s representatives were amongst the first in the industry to prudently adopt all necessary personal safety and physical distancing guidelines to resume field work. In line with the changing business realities, your Company adapted its in-clinic communications to the need for delivery of key messages with greater immediacy and impact. These initiatives led to market share consolidation and gains in competitive performance for your Company across the categories of Anti-infectives, Pain, Dermatology and Vitamins. Augmentin and Calpol have figured consistently amongst the top 5 brands in the Indian Pharmaceuticals Market (IPM) with Evolution Index above market. Your Company also repositioned Eltroxin as a women- centric brand. An HCP-focused campaign was started for creating awareness and better diagnosis in hypothyroidism roping in Indian playback singer, Neha Kakkar, as the brand ambassador for Eltroxin to share her experiences about her thyroid disorder. Besides leading the topical antibiotics market, your Company has been making gains consistently in the topical corticosteroids and emollient categories. Within the growing moisturiser category, Physiogel emerged as one of the fastest growing brands driven by some innovative social media campaigns and online organised trade channels. Even though Dermatology was one of the impacted segments during Covid, your Company further consolidated its leadership in this segment during the year by remaining digitally engaged with key opinion leaders. Virtual platforms, such as Tell e-Skin, PG-ki-Paathshaala were deployed during the lockdown periods to disseminate the opinions and information shared by Dermatology experts with general practitioners, paediatricians and PG students on diagnosis and use of steroids, thereby improving the outcome for patients. Biologicals Over the past couple of years, globally, the role of vaccines has not only been better understood but has also been appreciated, giving GSK an opportunity to protect people as well as deliver growth. Your Company currently markets 10 vaccines across age groups - infants, adolescents and adults.