Simon Sturge will join Merck KGaA from Boehringer Ingelheim on 1 March to head the biosimilars unit.
The division, located in Canton de Vaud, Switzerland, is part of Merck’s pharmaceutical businesses alongside Merck Serono, Consumer Health and Allergopharma. It was established in 2012 to develop molecules for oncology and inflammatory disorders through in-house research and development expertise in biologics as well as partnerships with other biosimilars players, such as Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.
The unit makes use of Merck’s biologics manufacturing facilities of Aubonne and Corsier sur Vevey with support from the company's other European facilities.
Sturge joins Merck from Boehringer Ingelheim where he was Head of Biopharmaceuticals (including Biosimilars). Prior to this Sturge was CEO of Dutch biotech-company OctoPlus and before that CEO of Vernalis.
He has also held several roles of increasing seniority from Business Development, Marketing, Operations to CEO at Lonza Biologics, Celltech Biologics, and Astra.
Sturge succeeds Thierry Hulot, who created the biosimilars unit and took over responsibility for Global Manufacturing & Supply for the Merck Serono division at the end of last year.
