GlaxoSmithKline names new chief scientific officer and research head

GlaxoSmithKline has announced the appointment of Dr Hal Barron as its new chief scientific officer and president of research and development.

Dr Barron will assume his new role on January 1st 2018, at which point he will also become an executive director on the company's board. He has been appointed as the successor to the departing Dr Patrick Vallance.

Currently, Dr Barron serves as the president for research and development at Calico, a company dedicated to the study of lifespan biology. Prior to joining Calico, he served in a number of research leadership roles at Roche and Genentech.

During his time at Genentech and Roche, he oversaw the development of drugs such as Xolair, Avastin, Tarceva, Lucentis, Actemra, Zelboraf and Kadcyla, and is recognised as a leader in the fields of oncology and personalised medicine.

Emma Walmsley, chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "Scientific innovation must be at the heart of GlaxoSmithKline and with the appointment of Hal, we are bringing one of the world's foremost research and development leaders to the company."

Dr Vallance is leaving GlaxoSmithKline to become the UK government's chief scientific adviser and head of the government's office for science, providing scientific advice to the prime minister. He will depart the company at the end of March 2018.

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