GSK says to sell oncology arm to Novartis for $16bn

LONDON: British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is to sell its oncology business to peer Novartis for $16 billion and to buy the Swiss company's vaccines division, GSK announced on Tuesday.

Under a "major three-part transaction" GSK and Novartis have agreed also to create a consumer healthcare business, according to a statement issued by GlaxoSmithKline.