Monday, October 24, 2011

Meeker named Genzyme CEO

By Michelle Lang

Genzyme, now operating as a business unit of French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, has named David Meeker as CEO, as of Nov. 1, 2011. He had been serving as chief operating officer since March 2010.

As Genzyme’s new CEO, Meeker will join the Group Management Committee of Sanofi and report to Sanofi CEO Christopher Viehbacher, who will continue to hold the chairman post at Genzyme.

Genzyme oversees the rare disease unit and multiple sclerosis unit, with Sanofi having integrated the Cambridge biotech’s previous business units – renal, biosurgery and oncology – into its portfolio.

A Genzyme veteran since 1994, Meeker headed the its genetic diseases and Thyrogen businesses, as well as the biosurgery and transplant businesses. He led the global launches of Genzyme drugs Aldurazyme, Fabrazyme and Myozyme when he was appointed president of the Global Rare Disease Business. His COO appointment had Meeker supporting the transition of Genzyme into Sanofi. He earned a medical degree from the University of Vermont Medical School.

Genzyme has been hit with drug shortages of Cerezyme, its treatment for Gaucher disease, and Fabrazyme, its treatment for Fabry disease, since the six-week shutdown of the company’s Allston plant.

The company has said that FDA approval of its new plant in Framingham, expected by the end of the year, will permanently alleviate the shortage of Fabrazyme.

Sanofi acquired Genzyme for $20 billion in April.