James Barry Douglas Palmer
BMJ 2005; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7483.150-d (Published 13 January 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:150Data supplement
James Barry Douglas Palmer
Chief scientific officer Bristol-Myers Squibb and president BMS Pharmaceutical Research Institute (b 6 April 1953; q Aberdeen 1978), d 26 October 2004.James Palmer was the son of consultant respiratory physician and reader in medicine at Aberdeen University Dr K N V Palmer. He studied medicine at Aberdeen and, despite having to repeat his first year due to the rigours of the treatment of Hodgkin’s disease, graduated with commendation and distinction in medicine and surgery in 1978. Following in his father’s footsteps he began training to be a physician, becoming MRCP (UK) in 1981. He then moved to London in 1983 as an MRC research fellow at the Hammersmith Hospital studying lung neuropeptides.
James joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1985 working as a medical adviser to the respiratory unit of the clinical research unit of Glaxo. Promotion followed rapidly and he became director of respiratory clinical research in 1987. James was worldwide project leader during the development of salmeterol (Serevent), also working on fluticasone and other projects. From 1990, then as vice president of clinical research at the Glaxo Research Institute, he led the submission and approval of both Serevent and Flixonase, also overseeing two major FDA advisory committees.
Early in 1995 he became senior vice president and director, group medical operations, for Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development, assuming responsibility also for group regulatory operations in 1996 and product and commercial strategy in 1998.
He was made a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1991 and fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1995.
Following the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and Smith Kline Beecham, James became senior vice president of new product development with global responsibility for medical, regulatory, and product strategy, and was also a member of the GSK corporate executive team.
In 2002 he left GSK, moving to Bristol-Myers Squibb to become chief scientific officer and president of the BMS Pharmaceutical Research Institute, having responsibility for BMS worldwide R and D activity. He also graduated as a fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine with distinction.
Throughout his career, James published widely, with over 80 original papers and several chapters in books, and was also a reviewer for Thorax and the Journal of Applied Physiology, and was on the editorial board of Pharmaceutical Medicine.
James, who was held in great esteem by his alma mater, had joined the development trust of the Sixth Century fundraising campaign. In recognition of his contribution to the field of medical science the university had offered him the honorary degree of doctor of science, but sadly this could not be conferred due to his untimely death.
James Palmer was an extraordinary man who rose in meteoric fashion to the greatest heights of his chosen career path, despite several setbacks due to illnesses caused by the radiotherapy used initially to treat his Hodgkin’s disease.
Not once did I hear him complain about his misfortunes; rather, he maintained his wicked and mischievous sense of humour, his love of the work of Tony Hancock, an enduring interest in the fortunes of his classmates, and particularly the greatest love for his family.
He died in New York following a short illness and is survived by his wife, Susie, and children Ralph, Sarah, and Alexandra. [Gavin Stark]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a