TIDMGSK
RNS Number : 9316Y
GlaxoSmithKline PLC
19 January 2022
PRESS
RELEASE
For media and investors only
Issued: 19 January 2022, London UK
Tony Wood appointed Chief Scientific Officer designate, GSK
-- Tony Wood to assume full accountability for GSK R&D in August 2022
-- Hal Barron to transition in August 2022 from CSO to a GSK
Non-Executive Director with additional responsibilities to support
R&D
GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) today announced the appointment of
Tony Wood as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) designate. Tony will
assume full accountability for Research and Development (R&D)
from current CSO, Dr Hal Barron, on 1 August 2022, after which Hal
will remain on GSK's Board and become a Non-Executive Director,
with additional responsibilities to support R&D.
Tony is a highly respected scientist and one of the world's
pre-eminent chemists, with more than 30 years of experience working
across diverse disciplines of R&D to deliver innovative
medicines. He joined GSK from Pfizer in 2017, as Senior Vice
President, Medicinal Science and Technology, and is responsible for
all science and technology platforms supporting the discovery,
clinical development and delivery of new medicines across GSK.
During his career Tony has led large-scale global organisations
in drug discovery and development in multiple therapeutic areas,
including immunology, oncology and infectious diseases. He has been
pivotally involved in the launch of many new medicines at GSK,
including Nucala, Blenrep, Jemperli, Cabenuva and most recently
Xevudy. Tony has also been integral to delivering the recent
improvements in GSK's R&D productivity and central to
developing its R&D approach focusing on science of the immune
system, human genetics and advanced technologies, notably building
capabilities in functional genomics, artificial intelligence and
machine learning.
Tony will assume full accountability for R&D across GSK's
portfolio and pipeline from August 2022. After this, Hal will
remain a member of GSK's Board transitioning to serve as a
Non-Executive Director and a member of the Board's Science
Committee for an initial period of three years. In addition to his
Non-Executive responsibilities, Hal will also provide advice and
support on scientific and asset development matters and will attend
key R&D executive investment and advisory committees. He will
also continue to engage with the scientific community, R&D
partners and other companies, as required, in support of R&D
and on behalf of GSK.
As announced by Altos Labs today, Hal will assume the position
of CEO and Board Co-Chair of Altos Labs effective 1 August 2022.
Altos Labs is a new, private biotechnology company based in the San
Francisco Bay Area, with multiple global sites, and is focused on
the biology of cellular rejuvenation programming with the goal of
reversing disease.
Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer said: "We are delighted
to appoint Tony as our next CSO. He is an outstanding scientist who
is highly respected inside and outside GSK. Tony has been a key
partner to Hal in delivering our R&D approach, and with his
experience and expertise across science, data and new technologies,
he is perfectly placed to build on Hal's outstanding progress and
to deliver value from our pipeline. Hal's appointment to Altos Labs
is a unique opportunity for him and we are pleased that GSK will
continue to benefit from his expertise at the Board and in support
of R&D. Altogether, these changes provide us with a clear
pathway for continued momentum in R&D to deliver our new
ambitions for growth and scale impact for patients."
For media and investors only
PRESS
RELEASE
For media and investors only
Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer said: "Tony will be an
outstanding Chief Scientific Officer for GSK. I have worked closely
with him for several years. I know him as a person and scientist of
the highest quality. In the last four years we have significantly
improved the quality and strength of the pipeline and our overall
R&D productivity, delivering 13 major product approvals and
more than doubling the number of assets in Phase III/registration
to 23. GSK now has a pipeline of 21 vaccines and 42 medicines -
many of which offer potential best or first-in-class opportunities
for patients and will drive growth at GSK well into the next
decade. I'm very excited to remain part of GSK and to play a
significant role within the company as I transition to a
Non-Executive Board member and support Tony and the team to deliver
on the promise of our pipeline."
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer designate said: "I am
honoured to have been asked to lead GSK's R&D. In the past few
years, under Hal's leadership, we have made enormous progress to
strengthen the pipeline and put in place an R&D approach that
can improve the efficiency and success of medicine and vaccine
development. With the progress already made, and together with the
many talented people we have working in our R&D organisation, I
am confident that we will deliver highly successful and much needed
scientific innovation for patients in the years ahead."
Notes to Editors:
Tony Wood - Biography
Since joining GSK in 2017 as Senior Vice President, Medicinal
Science and Technology, Tony has been responsible for all science
and technology platforms supporting the discovery, clinical
development and delivery of new medicines across GSK. He been
instrumental in delivering new product launches, including Nucala,
Blenrep, Jemperli, Cabenuva and Xevudy.
Tony has been integral in developing GSK's new R&D approach,
building its new functional genomics and Artificial
Intelligence/Machine Learning organisations. He has also driven
numerous collaborations, including with the Laboratory for Genome
Research, Adrestia and the Altius Institute.
In his earlier career at Pfizer, Tony created and led its first
global Medicinal Chemistry organisation, supporting all small
molecule discovery output from Pfizer's Research Units. Among many
achievements, this group designed the antiviral molecules that led
to the development of the SARS-CoV-2 medicine Paxlovid.
Tony also created and led Pfizer's first Medicinal Sciences
organisation. In this role he was accountable for the design and
development of medicines including the JAK1 inhibitor abrocitinib,
JAK3 inhibitor ritlecitinib, and tofacitinib follow-on medicines.
He was also responsible for the structure-based design of the
Pfizer RSV vaccine, which is currently in phase III development.
Prior to this, Tony co-led Pfizer's research for the antiviral
therapeutic area. He invented maraviroc, a CCR5 antagonist for the
treatment of HIV and Pfizer's first successful drug derived from
high-throughput screening. It is one of the first examples of a
genetically inspired medicine.
He has lived and worked in both the UK and the US and has made
significant contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry,
receiving numerous international awards. He is a member of the UK
National Genomics Board and the Board of the Rosalind Franklin
Institute. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, from whom he has also
received an Honorary Fellowship, and a Fellow of the Royal Society
of Biology. Tony was closely involved with the UK Government's
COVID-19 planning, notably establishing the
GSK/AstraZeneca/Cambridge University testing facility at the
University's Anne McLaren Laboratory.
Tony has a BSc and PhD from the University of Newcastle, and was
a postdoctoral fellow at Imperial College, London.
Appointment process
The appointment of Tony Wood as CSO from 1 August 2022 was made
by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominations &
Corporate Governance Committee. The appointment follows an
extensive succession planning and selection process conducted by
the Board, using an external search firm. This process, which
included the interview of external and internal candidates, was
overseen by the Board's Nominations & Corporate Governance
Committee and the Science Committee.
Page 2
For media and investors only
PRESS
RELEASE
For media and investors only
Hal Barron - transition to Non-Executive Director
Hal will receive his existing salary up to 31 July 2022, with a
pro-rated bonus for 2022, and will retain all existing long-term
incentive awards.
Hal's executive service contract will end on 31 July 2022. This
will be replaced by a Letter of Appointment for his service as a
non-independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 August
2022. The Board will appoint Hal as a member of the Science
Committee with effect from that date.
In accordance with GSK's remuneration policy, Hal will receive
the standard basic fee for a Non-Executive Director of GBP95,000
per annum and will be entitled to receive the intercontinental
travel allowance. Subject to shareholder approval at GSK's AGM in
May 2022 he will also receive a further GBP200,000 per annum in
respect of the additional responsibilities that he has agreed to
undertake on behalf of GSK to support R&D. Hal will be required
to invest at least 25% of his fees in GSK shares to be held until
his retirement from the Board.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. For further
information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.
GSK enquiries:
Media enquiries: Tim Foley +44 (0) 20 8047 (London)
5502
Simon Moore +44 (0) 20 8047 (London)
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Dan Smith +44 (0) 20 8047 (London)
5502
Kathleen Quinn +1 202 603 5003 (Washington
DC)
Analyst/Investor Nick Stone +44 (0) 7717 (London)
enquiries: 618834
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784784
James Dodwell +44 (0) 20 8047 (London)
2406
Mick Readey +44 (0) 7990 (London)
339653
Josh Williams +44 (0) 7385 (London)
415719
Jeff McLaughlin +1 215 751 7002 (Philadelphia)
Frannie DeFranco +1 215 751 4855 (Philadelphia)
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
This announcement contains statements that are, or may be deemed
to be, "forward-looking statements". GSK cautions investors that
any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK,
including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to,
those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for
2020, GSK's 2021 Q3 Results and any impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic. GSK undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Accordingly, no assurance can be given
that any particular expectation will be met and investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking
statements.
This announcement contains inside information. The person
responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on
behalf of GSK is Victoria Whyte, Company Secretary.
Brand names
Brand names appearing in italics throughout this document are
trademarks of GSK or associated companies or used under licence by
the Group.
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TW8 9GS
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