Scrip

Coronavirus Update: Ex-GSK Exec To Lead Trump's Operation Warp Speed

Moncef Slaoui Confident Of 2020 Goal

18 May 2020

• By Scrip Team

US government will fund 'at risk' manufacturing of lead vaccine candidates, with Trump promising US will get priority. But skeptics say year-end timeline is unrealistic.

Moncef Slaoui at White House press briefing — Moncef Slaoui at the launch of Operation Warp Speed • Source: Screengrab from White House YouTube

President Trump has unveiled Operation Warp Speed, putting an ex-pharma leader and an army general in charge of developing and delivering a COVID-19 vaccine for the US by the end of 2020.

Former GlaxoSmithKline PLC executive Moncef Slaoui will be the project’s chief scientist, and will work alongside General Gustave Perna,...