GlaxoSmithKline announced that Dr. Hal Barron has been appointed chief scientific officer and president, R&D, GSK. He has also been appointed as an executive director to the GSK Board. Barron will assume his new roles on Jan. 1, 2018.
Barron is currently president R&D at Calico (California Life Sciences LLC), an Alphabet-funded company that uses advanced technologies to increase understanding of lifespan biology. Prior to joining Calico, he was executive vice president, Head of Global Product Development, and chief medical officer of Roche, responsible for all the products in the combined portfolio of Roche and Genentech.
“Scientific innovation must be at the heart of GSK," said Emma Walmsley, CEO, GSK, "and with the appointment of Hal, we are bringing one of the world’s foremost R&D leaders to the company.
“Hal has exceptional experience and a strong track record of developing significant new medicines from his time at Roche and Genentech; whilst at Calico he has helped build a research organisation that uses cutting-edge technologies in drug discovery and development. He is also very well known for his integrity, for being a clinician who is committed to always doing the best he can for patients and for building exceptional teams."
During his time at Genentech and Roche, Barron oversaw the development of Xolair (Asthma), Avastin (multiple tumour types), Tarceva (Lung Cancer), Lucentis (AMD), Actemra (Rheumatology), Zelboraf and Erivedge (Melanoma), Perjeta and Kadcyla (Breast Cancer), as well as Gazyva (CLL). He has overseen pioneering work in oncology, personalized medicine and has led teams across the USA, Europe and Asia.