Viking Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, announced yesterday that it has named Kathy Rouan, PhD as its new director.

Dr Rouan has more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience and offers the company drug discovery and development expertise across a broad range of therapeutic areas including gastroenterology, cardiovascular, immune-inflammation and oncology.

Dr Rouan most recently served as senior vice president and head of Projects, Clinical Platforms and Sciences at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). She first joined GSK in 1989 with a background in pharmaceutical sciences, focusing on formulation development of protein pharmaceuticals. In 1993, she transitioned into project leadership and management becoming vice president and head of metabolism and pulmonary project management in 1999. In 2007, Dr Rouan led the development, submission and approval of Arzerra (ofatumumab) for refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. In 2012, she became head of biopharmaceutical development, assuming responsibility for delivery of GSK's portfolio of biopharmaceutical medicines. In December 2013, Dr Rouan was appointed senior vice president and head of research and development for Stiefel.