GlaxoSmithKline will launch five new products in 2007, it revealed at a results meeting being held today, as it also reported sales up 9% to £23.2 billion and operating profits boosted 17% to £7.8 billion.

The firm's been pleased by an exceptionally strong US performance, where turnover rose 16% for the full year and 15% to £2.6 billion in the fourth quarter alone - despite the introduction of generic competition to its antidepressant Wellbutrin XL (bupropion) and the antiemetic drug Zofran (ondansetron).

On the pipeline front, the UK giant said four novel in-house compounds, three vaccines and three in-licensed drugs - HuMax, gepirone ER and XP13512 (see stories alongside) - have all entered late-stage development in the last 12 months. And its not resting on its laurels, with five major new pharmaceutical product launches slated for 2007: Tykerb (lapatinib) for breast cancer, Cervarix for the prevention of cervical cancer, Allermist/Avamys for allergic rhinitis, a once-daily cardiovascular treatment Coreg CR (carvedilol), and Trexima (sumatriptan plus naproxen) for migraine.

However, the firm is anticipating a slow-down for 2007, with earnings per share growth put at 8%-10% - down from the 19% increment reported today.

More on this story in tomorrow's World News elert.