GlaxoSmithKline appoints Hal Barron as R&D boss, replacing Vallance

GlaxoSmithKline has appointed Hal Barron - currently president of research & development at Alphabet-funded Calico - as chief scientific officer and president of R&D, replacing Patrick Vallance.

Vallance will leave the company at the end of March next year to take up the role of chief scientific adviser to the UK government and head of the Office for Science. Barron will join GSK on 1 January.

Prior to joining Calico, which uses advanced technologies to increase understanding of lifespan biology, Barron 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. At Genentech, he was senior vice president of development and chief medical officer.

Glaxo chief executive Emma Walmsley said: "Scientific innovation must be at the heart of 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.

"The fusion of science and technology is fast transforming pharmaceuticals R&D. With Hal, we have a new R&D leader who will drive the changes and choices we need to make to be successful in this new environment, and as we look to build the next wave of growth for the company."

Barron will be based in the US and operating from offices in both San Francisco and Stevenage in the UK. The new office presence in San Francisco will be focused on business development for R&D.

At 1435 GMT, the shares were up 1.5% to 1,363p.