Healthcare Industry News: alendronate
News Release - December 16, 2009
Merck Appoints Dr. Michael Rosenblatt As Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK ) today announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Rosenblatt as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Rosenblatt will be Merck's primary voice to the global medical community and will speak to critical issues such as patient safety.He will have responsibility for bringing even greater focus to Merck’s medical activities worldwide as well as shaping innovative medical strategies that meet the needs of our customers in new and better ways. Dr. Rosenblatt will report directly to Richard T. Clark, Merck’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, will serve on the company’s Executive Committee and will lead the company's Global Center for Scientific Affairs.
“Merck's fundamental mission is ensuring the well-being of patients worldwide and Dr. Rosenblatt’s appointment reinforces our steadfast commitment to always remain focused on this goal,” said Mr. Clark. “Dr. Rosenblatt's achievements in academia, clinical medicine and private industry are exceptional. With his nearly three decades of invaluable experience, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Rosenblatt to Merck’s executive team.”
Dr. Rosenblatt said, “Merck has built a great foundation on scientific innovation and dedication to the well-being of patients around the world and put an amazing team of researchers and scientists in place to drive the next wave of innovative products and services that save and improve lives. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make a difference in the lives of people around the world. Merck is a global health care leader with a broad, diversified portfolio of innovative medicines and vaccines and I couldn’t be more pleased to join this fine organization.”
Dr. Rosenblatt has served as Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine since 2003. Prior to Tufts University, Dr. Rosenblatt held the appointment of George R. Minot Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Bone and Mineral Metabolism Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). He served as the President of BIDMC from 1999-2001. Previously, he was the Harvard Faculty Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Programs at CareGroup and BIDMC and a founder of the Carl J. Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at Harvard Medical School and BIDMC.
Prior to that, he served as Director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. And earlier, he was Senior Vice President for Research at Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories where he co-led the worldwide development team for alendronate (FOSAMAX), Merck's bisphosphonate for osteoporosis and bone disorders. In leading most of Merck's international research efforts, he established two major basic research institutes. He also headed Merck Research's worldwide University and Industry Relations Department.
Dr. Rosenblatt is the recipient of the Fuller Albright Award for his work on parathyroid hormone and the Vincent du Vigneaud Award in peptide chemistry and biology, and the Chairman’s Award from Merck. Dr. Rosenblatt received his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Columbia and his M.D. magna cum laude from Harvard. His internship, residency, and endocrinology training were all at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
About Merck
Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. Merck. Be Well. For more information, visit www.merck.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, due to, among other things, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and pending legislation that could affect the pharmaceutical industry; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck’s patents and other protections for innovative products; the risk of new and changing regulation and health policies in the U.S. and internationally and the exposure to litigation and/or regulatory actions.
Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Schering-Plough’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, the proxy statement filed by Merck on June 25, 2009 and each company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site: www.sec.gov.
Source: Merck
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