GSK Poaches Star Pfizer Scientist to Head Vaccine R&D

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), whose COVID-19 vaccine development efforts have lagged behind those of competitors, has hired away one of the top scientists behind the Pfizer COVID-19 jab, which has been the most ubiquitous of the three vaccines approved for use in the U.S.

Philip Dormitzer will become GSK’s global head of R&D for vaccines as of Dec. 3, the company said.  

At Pfizer, Dormitzer was VP and chief scientific officer of RNA and viral vaccines, responsible for the company’s viral vaccines R&D portfolio. He provided Pfizer scientific leadership for the development of the company’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine co-developed with BioNTech.