Kenneth C. Frazier, JD, Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co., Inc., was elected Chairman of the Board of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Mr. Frazier formerly held the position of Chairman-Elect and succeeds Ian C. Read, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc.
New Officers Elected to PhRMA Board
“Our member companies have never invested more in researching and developing innovative, targeted new medicines to fight life-threatening diseases. Mr. Frazier’s proven leadership ability and deep experience in the biopharmaceutical industry will be incredible assets for our organization and its member companies,” said current PhRMA President and CEO John J. Castellani, who announced that he will be retiring, effective January 1, 2016.
Before becoming Chairman and CEO of Merck in 2011, Mr. Frazier served as President of Merck. He previously served as President of Merck Global Human Health from 2007 to 2010 and as General Counsel, overseeing Merck’s legal and public affairs functions, as well as The Merck Foundation, from 1999 to 2007.
In addition to his position with PhRMA, Mr. Frazier sits on the boards of Weill Cornell Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences. He received his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, and holds a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School.
“Our industry is poised to translate our most promising scientific breakthroughs into meaningful treatments capable of tackling the most urgent and vexing medical challenges of our times,” said Mr. Frazier. “We stand committed to driving progress for patients today and hope for tomorrow.”
Also elected to the Board were George A. Scangos, PhD, CEO of Biogen, as Chairman-Elect of the PhRMA Board of Directors, and Joaquin Duato, Worldwide Chairman of Pharmaceuticals at Johnson & Johnson, as Board Treasurer.
Dr. Scangos was appointed CEO of Biogen in June 2010. He joined the company from Exelixis, Inc., where he served as President and CEO since October 1996. From 1987 to 1996, Dr. Scangos held various positions at Bayer, Inc, including Senior Vice President of Research and Development and President of Bayer Biotechnology. Before joining Bayer in 1987, he was Professor of Biology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Scangos received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Cornell University and a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts.
Mr. Duato became Worldwide Chairman of Pharmaceuticals at Johnson & Johnson in January 2011. Mr. Duato joined Johnson & Johnson in 1989 in Janssen-Cilag Spain, and later became Managing Director of Janssen-Cilag Italy. He then led Ortho Biotech Europe before relocating to the United States in 2002, as Vice President for the Ortho Biotech Oncology Franchise. He was named President, Ortho Biotech Products, LP, in 2005. A native of Valencia, Spain, Mr. Duato holds an undergraduate degree in economics and two Master’s degrees—one in business administration and one in international management.
John J. Castellani Announces Retirement
Mr. Castellani will step down as President and CEO of PhRMA after successfully leading the Association since September 2010.
“On behalf of the PhRMA Board of Directors, I want to thank Mr. Castellani for his steadfast leadership at PhRMA over the past 5 years,” said Mr. Frazier. “He has been a strong advocate on behalf of the biopharmaceutical research industry, and for the millions of patients we serve all around the world. Under his leadership, PhRMA has worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen an environment that fosters the continued development of new lifesaving therapies and to ensure patients can access the medicines they need to live longer, healthier lives.”
Mr. Frazier announced that the search for Mr. Castellani’s successor will begin immediately and will be led by the PhRMA Board’s Nominations and Compensation Committee. ■
