MADISON, N.J., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wyeth announced today the appointment of Emilio A. Emini, Ph.D. as Executive Vice President, Vaccines Research and Development, for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals effective November 7, 2005. Dr. Emini joins Wyeth from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), where he was Senior Vice President for Vaccine Development. Prior to this position at IAVI, Dr. Emini was Senior Vice President, Vaccines and Biologics Research, with Merck & Co., Inc.
In his new role, Dr. Emini will lead an organization of approximately 600 scientists and professional support employees responsible for research and development for Wyeth Vaccines. His strategic leadership will be focused on research areas that include pneumococcal disease, bacterial meningitis, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV infection, and sexually transmitted diseases.
“Dr. Emini brings to his new role a proven record in leading high- quality research organizations at Merck and IAVI. He is a well-known and highly accomplished vaccine research leader,” says Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., Ph.D., President, Research & Development and Senior Vice President, Wyeth. “We are grateful that he is accepting the challenge to lead Wyeth Vaccines Research and Development to strengthen its position as a leader in our industry.” Dr. Emini will report to Dr. Ruffolo.
Following his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in 1980, Dr. Emini was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Microbiology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1980 to 1983. Dr. Emini then joined the Merck Research Laboratories where he held positions of increasing responsibility in both vaccine and antiviral therapeutic research.
For the past 18 months, Dr. Emini has served as the Senior Vice President for Vaccine Development at IAVI where he was responsible for expanding and leading the organization’s efforts on HIV vaccine development, and enhancing IAVI’s vaccine study infrastructure in countries most affected by the HIV pandemic.
Dr. Emini has authored more than 180 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and other medical publications, has edited a book about HIV treatment and research, and holds a number of U.S. and international patents. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.
About Wyeth
Wyeth is one of the world’s largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company’s major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
Wyeth
CONTACT: Media: Douglas Petkus, Wyeth, +1-973-660-5218, or Gerald Burr,Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, +1-484-865-5138; Investors: Justin Victoria, Wyeth,+1-973-660-5340
Web site: http://www.wyeth.com/
