Pfizer restructures, retains some Wyeth execs

Pfizer has unveiled its planned leadership and organizational structure for research and commercial operations that will become effective when the Wyeth acquisition closes.

At the senior-most level of the organization, Pfizer will retain eight senior executives from Wyeth who will join the company post-closing. The New York City-based Pfizer said that CEOs Jeff Kindler and Bernard Poussot and senior leadership of both companies will continue to work together through the integration process.

Research and development

Pfizer said it will form two distinct research organizations:

• The PharmaTherapeutics Research Group will focus on the discovery of small molecules and related modalities and will be led by Martin Mackay, MD, who now leads Pfizer's global research and development (R&D).
• The BioTherapeutics Research Group will focus on large-molecule research, including vaccines, and will be led by Mikael Dolsten, MD, who currently serves as president of Wyeth Research.

Both Dolsten and Mackay will serve as presidents of their respective organizations and members of Pfizer's executive leadership team, and both will report to Pfizer's Chairman and CEO Jeff Kindler. The teams will be responsible for creating a portfolio of both small and large molecules from across both research organizations. They will also pursue collaborations with academic, public-sector and private-sector institutions.

Emilio Emini, MD, who currently heads Wyeth's vaccine R&D, will join Pfizer as chief scientific officer (CSO) of vaccine research, and Menelas Pangalos, MD, who currently serves as Wyeth's head of discovery, will join Pfizer as CSO of neuroscience research.

"Creating two distinct, but complementary, research organizations...will provide sharper focus, less bureaucracy and clearer accountability in drug discovery," Kindler said.

The new Pfizer will consist of nine diverse global healthcare businesses, led by executives from both Pfizer and Wyeth, according to the company.

Biopharmaceuticals

Ian Read, currently president of worldwide pharmaceutical operations for Pfizer, will become group president of Pfizer BioPharmaceutical Businesses, and remain a member of the executive leadership team reporting to Kindler. In that capacity, he will lead a group that includes five biopharmaceutical businesses:

• Primary care, led by President Olivier Brandicourt, includes cardiovascular, infectious disease, immunology and central nervous system diseases and with R&D opportunities in areas like Alzheimer's disease and pain; and
• Specialty care and vaccines will be led by President Geno Germano, currently president of Wyeth's U.S. and pharmaceuticals business units includes inflammation, vaccines and immunology.
  

Vaccines

Jim Connolly, currently Wyeth's executive vice president and general manager of vaccines, will join the specialty care and vaccines business unit as president of vaccines, reporting to Germano. He will lead an vaccine business comprising marketing, sales and medical affairs, which will align with the vaccine research group led by Emini.

• Emerging Markets will continue to be led by President Jean-Michel Halfon for under-penetrated markets, including in Latin America, the Middle East and China;
• Oncology will continue to be led by President Garry Nicholson; and
  
• Established products will continue to be led by President David Simmons.

Diversified businesses

Cavan Redmond, currently president of Wyeth's consumer healthcare business, will become group president of Pfizer's diversified businesses, join Pfizer's executive leadership team and report to Kindler. The group will include four businesses:

• Animal health will continue to be led by President Juan-Ramón Alaix;
• Capsugel will continue to be led by President Guido Driesen;
• Consumer health will be led by President Paul Sturman, currently president of U.S. and global business development of new products for Wyeth consumer healthcare; and
• Nutritional health will be led by President Erica Mann, currently managing director of Wyeth Australia and New Zealand.

Pfizer said the executive team will begin working together immediately upon the completion of the acquisition. The acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the stockholders of Wyeth, and regulatory approval in certain jurisdictions. Pfizer and Wyeth continue to expect the transaction to close at the end of the third quarter or during the fourth quarter of 2009.