Another Democrat Payoff - Merck Appoints Former CDC Chief As Head Of Vaccines
Kenyan Obama
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Merck & Co. (MRK) named former public-health authority Julie Gerberding
as the head of the company's $5 billion vaccines business, starting Jan.
25.
Gerberding was the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention through most of President George W. Bush's administration, from
2002 until earlier this year.
Vaccines, along with emerging markets and biologics, are an area Merck is
eyeing for growth as it digests its recent acquisition of Schering-Plough
Corp. The takeover was designed to help bolster Merck's research pipeline
and diversify its product lineup in the face of challenges such as generic
competition and setbacks in bringing new drugs to market.
Merck's previous head of vaccines, Margaret McGlynn, recently retired.
The appointment of Gerberding brings Merck a step closer to rounding out
its post-Schering senior leadership team, most of which had been announced
in late August but which still had a few holes. Last week, the company
named a chief medical officer, Michael Rosenblatt, who had been dean of
Tufts University's medical school.
Also, Merck earlier this month named Michael Kamarck as president of Merck
BioVentures and senior vice president of vaccines and biologics
manufacturing, said spokeswoman Amy Rose. Merck BioVentures is the unit
Merck created last year to develop so-called follow-on biologics, or new
versions of drugs derived from living cells.
Kamarck was previously head of technical operations and product supply at
Wyeth, which was acquired by Pfizer Inc. (PFE). Frank Clyburn, who
previously led Merck BioVentures, has been named senior vice president of
global pharmaceuticals franchises.
Merck continues to search for a permanent head of its consumer health-care
unit, a business largely inherited via the Schering deal, and which sells
Coppertone sunscreen among other products. Stanley Barshay is interim
leader of the business.
Merck Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Clark on Monday called
Gerberding a "preeminent authority in public health, infectious diseases
and vaccines."
As president of the vaccines business, she will be responsible for the
sale of the company's current portfolio of vaccines, the introduction of
vaccines from the company's pipeline and the acceleration of Merck's
efforts to broaden vaccinations in developing countries. Gerberding will
also collaborate with Merck's manufacturing division and Merck Research
Laboratories to manage links between basic research, late-stage
development and manufacturing.
Merck shares were recently up 2.25% at $38.24 amid a broad market rally.
Dakota
> http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091221-709821.html
>
> DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
>
> Merck & Co. (MRK) named former public-health authority Julie Gerberding
> as the head of the company's $5 billion vaccines business, starting Jan.
> 25.
>
> Gerberding was the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
> Prevention through most of President George W. Bush's administration, from
> 2002 until earlier this year.
She became director of the CDC during the term of GW Bush and left soon
after Obama took office. Bush is a Republican. Obama is a Democrat. Even
Fox News and Glenn Beck agree about that. Yet your subject starts with
"Another Democrat Payoff ..."