C&L: Slaoui named GSK research chief

GlaxoSmithKline announced that Dr. Moncef Slaoui, currently senior vice president, worldwide business development and external alliances, GSK R&D, will become chairman, research & development.

Ajit Gill is retiring as CEO of Nektar Therapeutics and former CEO Robert Chess has been named interim CEO until a replacement is found.

SkyePharma has hired Frank C. Condella Jr. as chief executive and Dr. Ken Cunningham as COO.

Advancis Pharmaceutical has appointed R. Gordon Douglas as chairman as it separates that job from the chief executive's.

Synthetic Genomics, the company founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., announced that Aristides Patrinos, Ph.D., will become president of the company.

Allergan has named F. Michael Ball president.

Sirna Therapeutics has hired Gregory Weaver, CPA, MBA as the company's senior vice president and CFO.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has appointed Akshay K. Vaishnaw, M.D., Ph.D., to the position of vice president, clinical research.

Deborah Tanner will be promoted to corporate senior vice president and president of central laboratory services at Covance.

Nutra Pharma has engaged Robert A Ollar, PhD to act as the chairman of Designer Diagnostics' scientific advisory board.

Can-Fite BioPharma has named Dr. Ilan Cohn, a member of the board of directors, vice chairman of the board.

Cepheid announced that Thomas D. Brown has been appointed to the board of directors. 

Replidyne has elected Kirk K. Calhoun, retired partner of Ernst & Young, as a member of its board of directors and chairman of the audit committee. 

Oxford BioMedica announced that Dr. Mike McDonald has been promoted to the board as an executive director. 

BioSeek has elected W. Michael Gallatin, Ph.D., and Roy A. Whitfield to its board of directors. 

Millennium Pharmaceuticals has elected Anthony H. Wild, Ph.D., to its board of directors. 

Xanthus Life Sciences has elected Dr. Derek M. Winstanly to the company's board.