Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, speaks with President Donald J. Trump during a vaccine development event at the Rose Garden, White House, on Friday, May 15, 2020, in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford | Washington Post | Getty Images
Moncef Slaoui, who led the Trump administration’s efforts to develop the Covid vaccination, said Wednesday that he was “deeply sorry” for a woman whose sexual harassment allegations led to her dismissal earlier this day as president. a company backed by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.
Slaoui also said that he is taking leave of absence from other health care companies and a venture capital firm to focus on his family, to which he apologized.
Slaoui, who spent 30 years at GSK, was a chief scientist for Operation Warp Speed, the US government’s project to develop vaccines to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, GSK said its board fired the 61-year-old president of Galvani Bioelectronics over “well-founded” allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against a woman employed by GSK in a few years ago. GSK is the majority shareholder of Galvani.
The woman made the allegations in a letter sent to GSK in February. A law firm employed by the drug company, Morgan, Lewis & Bokius, continues to investigate her allegations.
“I deeply regret today’s statement by GlaxoSmithKline plc regarding my resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Galvani,” Slaoui said in a statement late Wednesday.
“I have the utmost respect for my colleagues and I feel terrible that my actions have put a former colleague in an awkward situation. I would like to apologize unreservedly to the employee in question and I am very sorry for any suffering caused.” , he said.
“I would also like to apologize to my wife and family for the pain it is causing,” Slaoui said.
“I will work hard to redeem myself with all those affected by this situation,” he said.
Slaoiui is married to Kristen Slaoui, who was previously vice president and head of business development at GSK.
GSK issued a condemnatory statement about Slaoui in announcing his cessation from Galvani.
“Dr. Slaoui’s behavior is completely unacceptable,” wrote GSK, which removes Slaoui’s name from its vaccine research center in Rockville, Maryland.
The company also said that Slaoui’s actions “represent an abuse of his management position, violate the company’s policies and are contrary to the strong values that define the GSK culture.”
“The company expects everyone at GSK to behave in accordance with its values, especially its leaders where its standards are highest.”
GSK CEO Emma Walmsley, in a separate letter to employees, said she was “shocked and upset about all this, but determined.”
“I want to make it clear that sexual harassment is strictly forbidden and will not be tolerated,” Walmsley wrote.
“Protecting the woman who came and her privacy has been a critical priority all this time. This will continue,” Walmsley wrote. “I respect and admire her courage and strength. I’ve spent many nights lately putting myself in her shoes. More than anything, this just shouldn’t have happened.”
Galvani is a medical research company focused on the development of bioelectronic drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases. It was formed through a partnership between GSK and Verily Life Sciences, formerly known as Google Life Sciences. Verily is a subsidiary of Google’s parent Alphabet.
Slaoui joined Centessa Pharmaceuticals last month as chief scientist and advisor.
Centessa was founded by venture capital firm Medicxi. Slaoui has been a partner in Medicxi since 2017.
Slaoui is also chairman of the board of the vaccine company Vaxcyte.
A GSK spokesman, when asked if the company would share the details of its investigation into Slaoui with other companies with which it is affiliated, said: “We do not share anything beyond what I have said publicly at this time.”