GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK), a leading MNC in India, has posted net profit growth of 18.1 per cent during the first quarter ended March 2009 and its net profit amounted to Rs 143.27 crore as against Rs 121.27 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The company's net sales increased by 9.3 per cent to Rs 457.15 crore from Rs 418.11 crore. With improvement in profitability, its earning per share moved up to Rs 16.9 from Rs 14.3 in the last period. On account of better performance, the GSK scrip moved up by almost Rs 9 on BSE to Rs 1,176 in the morning session.

The company's net sales of the full year ended December 2008 touched to Rs 1660 crore and it earned a net profit of Rs 576.57 crore with earning per share of Rs 68.1.