CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genzyme,
a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today the
appointment of William “Bill” Sibold as Head of Multiple Sclerosis and
Rogério Vivaldi as Head of Rare Diseases. Both will report to David
Meeker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, and will join
the Genzyme Executive Team. The MS and Rare Disease businesses
constitute Genzyme’s core focus following its integration with Sanofi.
“Our
highest priority is to resolve our product shortages and consistently
meet the needs of patients.”
“These appointments are a critical step in launching the new
Genzyme,” said David Meeker. “Bill and Rogério are dynamic
leaders with the experience, energy, vision and commitment to patients
needed to move us forward.”
Bill Sibold has more than 20 years of experience in the
biopharmaceutical industry, primarily in commercial operations, and has
worked on multiple sclerosis products Avonex® and Tysabri®.
He spent eight years in positions of increasing responsibility at Biogen
Idec Inc., where, as Senior Vice President of U.S. Commercial, he was
responsible for the company’s $2.5 billion neurology, oncology and
rheumatology therapeutic areas consisting of approximately 800
employees. Prior to this, Bill served as managing director of Biogen
Idec’s Asia Pacific region, where he was responsible for Australia, New
Zealand and six Asian countries.
“Our goal is to build a world-leading multiple sclerosis franchise,”
said David Meeker. “Bill’s substantial commercial experience and his
deep knowledge of the MS field will be critical to the launch of
Lemtrada™* and Aubagio™*, two investigational therapies with the
potential to transform the lives of people living with MS.”
Bill joins Genzyme from Avanir Pharmaceuticals, where he was the Chief
Commercial Officer, leading all of the company's commercial activities.
Bill earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BA in Molecular
Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.
Rogério Vivaldi joined Genzyme in 1997 and has held positions of
increasing responsibility over his career with the company. Prior to
this appointment, Rogério was President of Genzyme’s Renal and
Endocrinology Business. He previously served as Senior Vice President
and President of Genzyme Latin America, responsible for the company’s
significant growth and diversification in the region, after founding
Genzyme in Brazil.
Rogério was the first Brazilian doctor to treat a patient with Gaucher
disease with enzyme replacement therapy in 1992 and has authored several
publications on Gaucher disease. He was the founding partner of the
Latin American Group on Gaucher. Rogério received his medical degree
from Universidade do Rio de Janeiro Medical School, and received his MBA
degree from Copead – Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
“Rogério’s experience as a physician treating Gaucher patients in
Brazil and his subsequent work in building our rare disease business in
Latin America will provide both continuity and an energizing new
beginning for our global rare disease business,” said David Meeker. “Our
highest priority is to resolve our product shortages and consistently
meet the needs of patients.”
About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative
therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for
over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and
with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on
rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a
positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That
goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme’s portfolio of
transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the
world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine.
As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of
one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared
commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at www.genzyme.com.
* Lemtrada™ and Aubagio™ are the proprietary names submitted to
health authorities for the company's investigational multiple sclerosis
agent alemtuzumab and teriflunomide respectively.
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