Merial and Intervet/Schering-Plough name CEO for joint venture

Merial and Intervet/Schering-Plough are to appoint Raul Kohan as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the joint venture which will be created when they complete their merger.

Mr Kohan, the current president of Intervet/Schering-Plough, has been selected for the role by Merck Sharpe and Dohme and Sanofi-aventis, the firms responsible for the two current animal health businesses.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011, subject to regulatory approval, with current Merial executive president Jose Barella set to lend support to Mr Kohan once the companies merge.

It was also announced that the global animal health leader which will be created by the merger is to be named Merial-Intervet.

Richard Clark, Merck’s chairman and CEO, said: “The new joint venture will have one of the broadest portfolios of animal health products and services in pharmaceuticals and biologics to meet the needs of millions of customers.”

The last month has also seen Merial move to collaborate with Biolex Therapeutics and the Infectious Disease Research Institute over the development of several new vaccines.