Merck & Co. (MRK) and Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY, SAN.FR) said
they will name Raul E. Kohan as chief executive for their proposed
animal-health joint venture.
Kohan is now president of Intervet/Schering-Plough, Merck's
animal-health business, which will be wrapped together with
Sanofi's similar Merial business to create the new Merial-Intervet
animal-health joint venture.
Sanofi and Merck said in March they would combine their two
units, creating the world's biggest animal-health business, with
more than $5 billion of revenue and roughly 29% of the global
animal-health market. The venture is expected to get regulatory
clearance by early next year.
Kohan joined Schering-Plough, which was bought by Merck last
fall, in 1984 and has since held positions of increasing
responsibility. He "brings a wealth of animal health and global
pharmaceutical industry experience" to the position, said Merck
Chairman and Chief Executive Richard T. Clark.
Jose Barella, executive chairman of Merial, will continue in his
role until the deal closes. The companies didn't say what his
position would be after that.
Separately, Merck said earlier Tuesday that it had signed a
statement to cooperate with Sinopharm Group Co. (SHTDF, 1099.HK) on
a vaccine for human papillomavirus and other mutually picked
vaccine products in China and will discuss the potential for
promoting and marketing Merck's products in China. Merck has been
active recently in pushing to increase its global footprint.
-By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855;
nathan.becker@dowjones.com;