Pfizer Says Research and Development Head John LaMattina Will Retire This Year

Company to Focus on Accelerating Development and Commercialization of Strong Early- and Mid-Stage Pipeline

22-May-2007

Pfizer said that the President of Pfizer Global Research and Development, Dr. John LaMattina, who made many important contributions to the Company's research division throughout his 30-year career, will retire from Pfizer by the end of this year. The company will begin a search both inside and outside the company for his successor, and Dr. LaMattina has agreed to remain during this period to ensure a smooth transition.

"Science is at the heart of Pfizer, where world-class scientists use cutting-edge technologies to find new cures for diseases that cut short far too many lives," said Jeff Kindler, Pfizer's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Pfizer now has a significant array of early- and mid-stage product candidates across a range of important therapeutic areas, and John has made a critical contribution to building this foundation. With that in place, John felt it was the right time to retire as we look to the future and accelerate the development of our most promising compounds so that they will be ready for commercialization as rapidly as possible."

Pfizer's research now includes 249 total programs with new therapies in development for obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, oncology, liver disease, HIV and Alzheimer's disease, among others. To further enhance the productivity of the R&D organization, Pfizer announced a series of initiatives at its January 22 analyst meeting, including site consolidations. There continues to be good progress on executing these plans, with, for example, a high rate of acceptance by Ann Arbor colleagues who have been offered the opportunity to relocate to other Pfizer R&D sites.

Pfizer also announced that, after a distinguished career in which he made important contributions, Chief Financial Officer Alan Levin has resigned to pursue career opportunities outside Pfizer.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/64803/pfizer-says-research-and-development-head-john-lamattina-will-retire-this-year.html