EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, has announced that Richard R. Smith joined the company as senior vice president and head of U.S. Fertility and Endocrinology. In this role, Mr. Smith will oversee the Fertility and Endocrinology businesses in the U.S., including the U.S. Fertility Technologies division, which launched its first product last year with Gidget, a hand-held witnessing system for the IVF laboratory that provides visual lab workflow management and support for traceability and audit reporting.

Smith joins EMD Serono from Novartis, where he was most recently vice president and U.S. head of Sales & Operations of the Cardiovascular franchise. During his 18 years with Novartis, Smith held roles of increasing responsibility across the commercial business including Executive Director and Head of the organization's Transplant franchise as well as positions in Customer Segment Marketing, Strategy & Commercial Operations for the U.S. Specialty Medicines franchise, Brand Managed Markets strategy, pricing and contracting for the Neuroscience franchise. He began his career at Novartis as a sales representative.

"We have a longstanding focus on providing comprehensive solutions in the areas of fertility and endocrinology care through innovative products as well as financial, educational and emotional support," said Gary Zieziula, president and managing director of EMD Serono. "Adding Richard's expertise, passion and industry knowledge to our strong and committed team will ensure that we are well-positioned to further meet the needs of patients and customers."

EMD Serono is a long-standing leader in commercializing biologic and specialty pharmaceuticals in fertility and endocrinology. EMD Serono's GONAL-f [follitropin alfa for injection] is the world's first and most-widely prescribed recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH). In 2016, EMD Serono celebrated the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of Serostim [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]. Serostim has been an important treatment for a subset of HIV positive patients affected by HIV Associated Wasting. EMD Serono also markets Saizen [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.

Smith succeeds Craig Millian, who was recently appointed senior vice president, U.S. Neurology and Immunology.