DRUGS company GlaxoSmithKline today praised the performance of five key disease treatments which have helped raise sales.

The pharmaceuticals giant said the drugs, which treat asthma to heart disease, helped boost sales by more than 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2004.

The chief executive, Jean-Pierre Garnier, said the company had made a good start to 2004 with US sales ahead by 10 per cent.

Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo.