British pharmaceutical company GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK) on Wednesday reported first-quarter core earnings of $1.25 per share (46.5 pence), beating the consensus estimate of $1.17. Earnings rose 4%, or 9% at constant currency.

Quarterly sales totaled $10.22 billion (7.63 billion pounds), up 2% year over year, or 5% at constant currency, and ahead of analyst estimates of $10.19 billion.

Shingrix Demand Lifts Vaccines

Specialty medicines revenue increased 10%, or 14% at constant currency, to 3.23 billion pounds. HIV franchise sales rose 6% to 1.82 billion pounds, or 10% at constant currency.

Vaccine sales grew 3%, or 4% at constant currency, to 2.15 billion pounds, supported by strong demand in Europe for the shingles vaccine Shingrix, partly offset by declines in other pediatric and adult vaccines.

Shingrix sales climbed 18%, or 20% at constant currency, to 1.03 billion pounds, driven by higher demand in Europe and favorable inventory movements, including the U.S. launch of ...