Despite recent corporate shake-ups at Philadelphia’s Smith Kline & French Laboratories, the R&D scientists will remain unscathed, according to the company. “We will invest more dollars in R&D in 1989 than we did in 1988,” Viewed Henry Wendt, SmithKline Beckman chairman and chief executive officer, when the resignation of Stanley T. Crooke, head of R&D, was announced August 10. The company—which employs 2,100 research personnel—has an R&D budget this year of $250 million. Crooke will be succeeded by George Poste, vice president of worldwide research and preclinical development. On July 26, upon the resignation of James H. Cavanaugh, SK&F presidency shifted to the pharmaceutical’s number two man, Frederick W. Kyle.
The timing was, to say the least, unfortunate. As Hoffmann-La Roche, Nutley, N.J., announced the creation of a dermatologics division, headlines broadcast new furor over Acutane, the acne medication linked to severe birth defects. Acutane is one of Hoffman-La Roche’s ...
