GlaxoSmithKline plans to eliminate as many as 850 jobs in R&D in the U.S. and Britain, which represents 6% of the company's total R&D staff. According to a company statement, the cuts were necessary "to ensure that we can invest in key areas of future growth and evolve our business to compete effectively in what is a rapidly changing and challenging environment for pharmaceutical companies."
   
Earlier this year, the company had announced plans to cut 350 R&D positions. According to Claire Brough, a spokeswoman for the Brentford, U.K. office. The exact number of job cuts will be determined after consultations with employees and unions.
   
Andrew Witty, GSK's chief executive officer has pledged to increase the company's investment in outside research. According to Mr. Witty, half of GSK's drugs in development eventually could come from partnerships with outside firms. To support his plan, Mr. Witty has set up a board that includes venture capitalists to review R&D projects and decide which to fund. He has eliminated some areas of research in order to focus the company on eight disease areas. GSK has Centres of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDDs) dedicated to each disease area. These changes impact at least three CEDDs.

Gergely Makara, Ph.D. has been named director of chemistry for European operations, AMRI. Dr. Makara has responsibility for all European chemistry products and services including custom synthesis, medicinal chemistry, analytical services, library design and production. He will report to Philip Small, Ph.D., managing director of AMRI’s European operations.
   
Dr. Makara has more than 10 years of industrial experience focused on the development of compound libraries and lead optimization at leading drug discovery companies in the U.S. Most recently, he served as the head of Merck’s Target Validation Chemistry group where he was involved in setting up infrastructure for parallel chemistry synthesis and associated chemoinformatics. Prior to Merck, Dr. Makara was director, hit-to-lead optimization and chemical library development for Neogenesis Pharmaceuticals.
   
“Dr. Makara brings critical scientific and leadership experience to our European operations. His proven ability to form and lead innovative teams is particularly relevant in helping us to execute against our plan to expand services and operations offered to customers worldwide, and more specifically, to further relationships within the European marketplace,” said Dr. Small.
   
AMRI chairman, president and chief executive officer Thomas E. D'Ambra said, “The addition of Dr. Makara further demonstrates AMRI’s commitment to the restructuring plan initiated in May to provide a strong foundation for future expansion through realignment of customer offerings, with an emphasis on the expansion of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery services in Europe.”

Tara Webb has been appointed senior director of business development, Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network (ACORN). Ms. Webb will focus exclusively in the field of oncology, working closely with a select group of sponsors.  
   
“Tara Webb has an exceptional background in the CRO field and is widely respected for her industry knowledge, capabilities and integrity,” said Edward J. Stepanski, Ph.D., chief operations officer of ACORN. “Her responsibilities at ACORN CRO will include presenting ACORN’s capabilities to pharmaceutical companies and emerging biotechs, forging alliances with key accounts and providing customer service oversight on behalf of clients.”  
   
Ms. Webb brings a successful record of establishing and cultivating CRO relationships. Most recently, she served as senior director, business development for i3 Statprobe, where she was responsible for developing new business opportunities and strengthening current client relationships both nationally and internationally.