Former Amgen executive appointed as new research chief for Merck

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, has announced the appointment of Roger M. Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., as Executive Vice President and President of Merck Research Laboratories (MRL), effective from April 15th 2013.

Dr Perlmutter will succeed Peter S. Kim, Ph.D., who has served in the role since 2003. To ensure a seamless transition, Dr Perlmutter and Dr Kim will work closely together for an initial period, after which Dr Kim will remain with the company as an advisor until his retirement in August.

“Roger is a world-class physician-scientist with a proven track record of leading large research organizations and delivering a broad and diverse pipeline of medicines. With his deep knowledge of the ongoing changes in the industry’s external environment and their implications for how we use R&amp,D resources, Roger is ideally suited to lead Merck’s global research and development. I am confident that under Roger’s leadership, Merck will continue to build upon our legacy of translating cutting edge science into medically important products that make a difference for patients.”

Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck.

Before this new role, Dr Perlmutter was the Executive Vice President and Head of R&amp,D at Amgen Inc. for 11 years between 2001 and 2012. During his tenure, Dr Perlmutter oversaw the development and subsequent approval of a number of novel biologic and small molecule medicines in the areas of cancer, endocrinology, hematology, inflammation and osteoporosis. Prior to Amgen, he was the Executive Vice President of worldwide basic research and preclinical development at Merck.

“I am deeply grateful to the incredibly talented and dedicated people of MRL who have worked with me over the past 12 years on our mission of delivering medicines and vaccines to improve human health around the world. I am very pleased with Roger’s appointment and confident that he is the right person to lead MRL into the future, and am committed to ensuring a seamless leadership transition for this truly special organization and its great people.”

Peter S. Kim, who has announced his retirement.