MR. PAUL LUCAS APPOINTED NEW CHAIR, RX&D BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Paul Lucas, President & CEO of GlaxoSmithKline Inc. as Chair of the association's Board of Directors. Mr. Lucas assumed the Board leadership at Rx&D's Annual General meeting held in Toronto today.

Mr. Lucas is a member of Rx&D's Executive Committee and served as Board of Directors Vice Chair. Mr. Lucas also served as Chair of the association in 1999 and 2006 and brings additional insight as a long standing member of the Board in returning to this role. 

"The men and women of the research-based pharmaceutical industry have discovered and developed new medicines, vaccines and biologics which have significantly enhanced the quality of life for patients and extended the life expectancy of Canadians.  This focus on patients has also delivered significant benefits to our health care system and I am very proud of our industry.  I am honoured to once again lead the Rx&D Board," says Mr. Lucas.

"The pharmaceutical sector will need to play a key role in helping Canada recover from the recession and close the innovation gap.  As leaders in both R&D and innovation, the industry will continue to be an important source of high quality jobs into the future."

Mr. Lucas was appointed to his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in June 2000 and is currently responsible for all pharmaceutical operations in Canada. Prior to joining Glaxo Canada in September 1986 and being appointed its President and Chief Executive Officer in 1994, Mr. Lucas held progressive management positions at Eli Lilly Canada and McNeil Pharmaceutical. He is Co-Chair of the newly formed Coalition for Action on Innovation in Canada, a member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Region Research Alliance, a member of the Principal's Advisory Council of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, a member of the Montreal InVivo Board, and a member of the Ontario Genomics Institute Board.

He has obtained his Chartered Directors designation (C.Dir.) from the Directors College, a joint venture of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada. Under his leadership, GSK has become one of the top fifteen investors in Canadian research and development and one of Canada's leaders in charitable giving, gaining the Caring Company  distinction from Imagine Canada. For the last nine consecutive years, GSK has also been recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada, with 2009 marking the fourth consecutive year of being the top pharmaceutical employer.

"We are proud to welcome Mr. Lucas as Chair of the Rx&D Board of Directors," said Rx&D President Russell Williams. "He is an accomplished member of Canada's pharmaceutical community and an advocate of fostering and building the knowledge-based economy through innovation in Canada. He truly believes in the value of new medicines and vaccines in the sustainability of the health care system," said Mr. Williams.

About Rx&D

Rx&D is the association of leading research-based pharmaceutical companies dedicated to improving the health of Canadians through the discovery and development of new medicines and vaccines. Our community represents 15,000 men and women working for 50 member companies and invests more than $1 billion in research and development each year to fuel Canada's knowledge-based economy. Guided by our Code of Ethical Practices, our membership is committed to working in partnership with governments, healthcare professionals and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.

For further information:

François Lessard
Communications
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]