UPDATE 1-WPP wins Glaxo's U.S. consumer health account

(Adds confirmation and details)

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's second-largest drugmaker, is to consolidate its North American consumer health media account and award it to WPP Group Plc's (WPP.L: Quote, Profile, Research) MediaCom, a Glaxo spokesman said on Wednesday.

The company said MediaCom already handled the buying side for Glaxo's consumer healthcare as well as the buying and planning for its pharmaceuticals unit in North America.

The media planning side for consumer health is currently handled by MediaCom, Havas (EURC.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) unit MPG, Optimedia (PUBP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Campbell-Mithun.

"We are undertaking this consolidation to allow us to streamline our media buying and planning processes and expect the transition to be completed by the end of February, 2008," a spokesman said, declining to give any details on the value.

Glaxo sells a range of over-the-counter healthcare products in the United States, including Nicorette quit-smoking gum, Breathe Right snore-relief strips, recently introduced weight-loss treatment Alli, and Aquafresh and Sensodyne toothpastes.

The British-based company's consumer healthcare business generated worldwide sales of 3.15 billion pounds ($6.3 billion) last year.

The news follows two high-profile wins for WPP, which secured the advertising and marketing work for U.S. computer manufacturer Dell Inc (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) earlier this month.

Its agencies Mindshare and Y&R were also picked to handle the branding of South Korea's LG Electronics Inc (066570.KS: Quote, Profile, Research). (Reporting by Kate Holton and Ben Hirschler, editing by Will Waterman and David Cowell)