In this paper we are concerned with the well-posedness and the exponential stabilization of the generalized Korteweg-de Vries Burgers equation, posed on the whole real line, under the effect of a damping term. Both problems are investigated when the exponent p in the nonlinear term ranges over the interval [1,5). We first prove the global well-posedness in H s (R), for 0 ≤ s ≤ 3 and 1 ≤ p < 2, and in H 3 (R), when p ≥ 2. For 2 ≤ p < 5, we prove the existence of global solutions in the L 2 -setting. Then, by using multiplier techniques combined with interpolation theory, the exponential stabilization is obtained for a indefinite damping term and 1 ≤ p < 2 . Under the effect of a localized damping term the result is obtained when 2 ≤ p < 5. Combining multiplier techniques and compactness arguments it is shown that the problem of exponential decay is reduced to prove the unique continuation property of weak solutions