30 Mar 2004

Bill Haseltine announced last week that he will retire later this year from Human Genome Sciences. Haseltine founded this biotech company during the heady days of the 1990s genomics rush. The firm is now struggling to transform itself into a biopharmaceutical company, and in the process is deemphasizing genomics discovery work and focusing on moving drug candidates through clinical trials. HGS will soon cut its workforce by 20 percent. Haseltine last month spoke with the Alzheimer Research Forum in an interview; he plans to continue his not-for-profit activities. For more details, see Reuters online news. (From Reuters News Agency)