The era of the giant pharmaceutical conglomerate, which makes everything from cold medicines to breakthrough cancer treatments, appears to be coming to a close. In its place is an industry increasingly split between the risky – but potentially very rewarding – business of drug development, and the boring work of marketing over-the-counter remedies to consumers.Although the latter category may not come with the glory of a potential blockbuster drug, it will likely prove a steady investment through long-term economic cycles. One such firm is the consumer health group Haleon (HLN), which claims it is aiming to make the “world’s mouths healthier” through brands such as Sensodyne toothpaste.
Haleon was a joint venture between GSK PLC (GSK) and Pfizer (PFE) that included consumer brands acquired from Novartis (NVS). The company was spun out of the pharmaceutical group GSK and listed as a separate company on July 18, 2022, though GSK still owns 10.4% of Haleon. Will Haleon put a smile on investors' faces? Let's take a look.
