Former Operation Warp Speed scientist apologizes after being fired over sexual harassment claim

Moncef Slaoui, former chief scientist for the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, apologized Wednesday after being fired from a medical device startup’s board over sexual harassment allegations.

Slaoui served on the board of directors for Galvani Bioelectronics, a partnership between the Google spinoff Verily and the drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

GSK said Slaoui was fired over allegations of sexual harassment. In a statement emailed to The Hill, Slaoui acknowledged GSK’s statement and action, and apologized.

“I have the utmost respect for my colleagues and feel terrible that my actions have put a former colleague in an uncomfortable situation,” he wrote. “I would like to apologise unreservedly to the employee concerned and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused.”

Slaoui also apologized to his wife and family “for the pain this is causing,” and said he was taking a leave of absence from his current “professional responsibilities.” 

He said that he would “work hard to redeem myself with all those that this situation has impacted.”

GSK fired Slaoui on Wednesday after the company said it received a letter containing “allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct towards an employee of GSK by Dr. Slaoui, which occurred several years ago when he was an employee of GSK.”

The pharmaceutical company said an investigation is ongoing, but the allegations were “substantiated.” 

Slaoui departed GSK in 2017 after 30 years at the company. He was the head of GSK’s global vaccines business and before that, he was in charge of global research and development. 

He was hired for Operation Warp Speed in May 2020, before resigning in January at the start of the Biden administration. 

Slaoui recently announced the launch of a new company called Centessa Pharmaceuticals.