Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) operates as a specialty biopharmaceutical company in the United States. It engages in developing and commercializing KRYSTEXXA for the treatment of chronic gout in adult patients refractory to conventional therapy. The company also sells and distributes branded and generic versions of oxandrolone, a drug used to promote weight gain following involuntary weight loss.
SVNT announced today that David Meeker, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, has been elected to Savient Pharmaceuticals (SVNT) Board of Directors.
In addition, Savient announced the resignation from the Company’s Board of William F. Owen, Jr., M.D., who is relocating to Qatar to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Sidra Medical and Research Center.
David’s extensive knowledge of the life sciences industry and his expertise in developing therapeutic products and leading a renowned team at Genzyme will be great assets to Savient, and we look forward to his contributions to our Board. We also are grateful to Dr. Owen for his many contributions and his role in the progress of Savient.
Stephen O. Jaeger, Chairman of Savient’s Board of Directors
Dr. Meeker was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, in October 2011. Prior to this, he held key positions of increasing responsibility at Genzyme first within Research and Development and then within the commercial organization. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer, in which capacity he was responsible for Genzyme’s commercial organization and played an important role in the company’s integration with Sanofi. Previous positions at Genzyme included President of the Global Rare Disease Business, in which role Dr. Meeker oversaw the global launches of Aldurazyme®, Fabrazyme®, and Myozyme®. Prior to joining Genzyme, Dr. Meeker served as the Director of the Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and as an assistant professor of medicine at Ohio State University. He currently is a Board member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and of Prize4Life. Dr. Meeker received his M.D. degree from the University of Vermont Medical School and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.