GlaxoSmithKline appoints Jack Bailey to lead US pharmaceuticals unit

GlaxoSmithKline named Jack Bailey as president of its US pharmaceuticals unit, replacing Deirdre Connelly, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing a statement to company employees. Bailey most recently served as senior vice president for policy, payers and vaccines at the drugmaker.

Connelly, who was appointed as president of the company's North American pharmaceuticals unit in 2009, will retire from her position. Bloomberg noted that under a management reshuffle last year, Connelly began reporting to Abbas Hussain, GlaxoSmithKline's head of global pharmaceuticals, rather than directly to CEO Andrew Witty, as the drugmaker looked to revitalise its sales in the US.

"The US marketplace has changed significantly, with an exceedingly competitive payer landscape," remarked Hussain. "As a result the entire sector is facing new challenges due to pressures on price and access," Hussain added.

Revenue from Advair in the US has been hit after the product lost patent protection and the country's largest pharmacy-benefits manager stopped reimbursing prescriptions for the asthma therapy.GlaxoSmithKline reported earlier this month that sales of Advair are likely to continue falling in 2015, although the company expects its overall respiratory portfolio to return to growth in 2016, driven by new drugs including Breo Ellipta and Anoro Ellipta.

Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKline has also been looking to reduce costs, announcing last year that it would cut 900 jobs from its Research Triangle Park site in North Carolina.

By: Matthew Dennis - Financial Times, Bloomberg)

Republicado por:RM Consult