LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline is bolstering scientific expertise on its board by establishinga new science committee, charged with overseeing research, as anew chief executive prepares to take over.
Incoming CEO Emma Walmsley, the first woman to lead a topglobal drugmaker, stands out among Big Pharma bosses as aconsumer brands specialist rather than a prescription medicinesexpert.
Since her appointment in September she has spent much of hertime learning about GSK's prescription drug research anddevelopment (R&D), according to company insiders. She takes overfrom Andrew Witty at the end of March.
Britain's biggest drugmaker said on Monday that its newscience committee would be chaired by non-executive directorJesse Goodman, a former chief scientist for the U.S. Food andDrug Administration.
Patrick Vallance, president of R&D, will also join the GSKboard as an executive director on Jan. 1, ahead of theretirement of current research head and board member MoncefSlaoui on March 31.
Despite GSK's diversified structure, which includes vaccinesand consumer health products, drug discovery remains a coreactivity and the company expects important clinical results forbetween 20 and 30 experimental medicines by the end of 2018.
Walmsley herself has described R&D as "the beating heart" ofthe group. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Greg Mahlich)